Dover, Del. (Feb. 22, 2010) --- Freshman Marques Oliver scored a career-high 23 points to lead Delaware State to a 59-43 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men's basketball win over Coppin State in Memorial Hall Monday evening. 

The Hornets have won four of their last five games to improve to 15-10 overall and 10-4 in the MEAC. The Eagles fell to 7-19 and 2-11. The win assured DSU of at least a second place finish in the final MEAC regular season standings.

Oliver was 10-for-14 from the field and 3-of-4 at the free throw line. He also had led all players with a career-high five blocks. The Durham, N.C. native has 47 points and 10 blocks in the last three games.

Earlier Monday, Oliver was named MEAC Rookie-of-the-Week.

Jay Threatt contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Hornets.

Sam Coleman was high scorer for Coppin State with nine points. Michael Harper led the Eagles with a game-high 10 rebounds.

After a slow start , Delaware State used a late first half run to take control of the game. The Hornets outscored the Eagles 20-9 in the last nine minutes of the first half to take a 24-17 lead at the break.

The Hornets opened up a 26-19 lead on a jumper by Frisco Sandidge with 16:51 left to play.

Coppin State hung around for the next seven minutes, and pulled to within 36-33 on a three-point play by Coleman with 9:17 remaining.

Delaware State answered with a 17-6 run, and opened up 53-39 lead on a three-pointer by Threatt with 1:52 left to go. Coppin State could get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way. 

DSU was 20-for-53 from the field (37.7%), including 3-of-15 from three-point territory. Coppin State connected on 15-of-52 shots from the floor (28.8%), but was 0-for-8 from beyond d the arc.  

The Hornets return to action on Saturday (Feb. 27) at Hampton.