Dover, Del. (Nov. 12, 2011) --- Freshman guard Tahj Tate led four players in double-figures with a game-high 23 points in Delaware State's 86-65 men's basketball win over Wilmington University in the season opener for both teams in Memorial Hall on Saturday.
Tate was 8-for-15 from the field, including two three-pointers, and 5-of-5 at the free throw line. He also dished out five assists and collected four steals in his collegiate debut.
Senior guard Jay Threatt had 12 points and five assists, while Tyshawn Bell and Marques Oliver added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Bell, a Caesar Rodney High School (Del.) product was 6-for-9 from the field. Oliver led all players with four blocks.
Brandon Fox came off the bench to lead four Wilmington players in double figures with 16 points.
Delaware State was 33-for-57 from the field (57.9%) for the game, including 16-of-26 (61.5%) in the first half.
Wilmington got off to a fast start, using a 10-3 run to open up a six-point lead in the early going. Matthew King capped off the spurt with a lay up to give the Wildcats a 15-9 lead with 13:59 left in the first half.
The Hornets answered with an 8-2 run, and tied the game at 17-17 on a jumper by Bell with 12:45 to play in the opening half.
Wilmington led 29-24 before Tate took charge. He scored the next 10 points in the game, including a three-point play to give the Hornets a 34-29 lead with 3:12 left in the half.
Delaware State closed out the half with an 11-4 run to take a 45-33 lead at the break.
Bell hit two shots during a two-minute stretch of the second half. His second basket gave the Hornets a 56-40 lead with 13:38 left to play.
The Wildcats ran off six unanswered points to pull to within 68-57 with less than six minutes to go in the game.
Delaware State responded by scoring 14 of the next 17 points to pull away again. Tate ended the run with a lay up to give the Hornets an 81-60 lead with 1;25 remaining. Threatt tallied five points and Bell four during the rally.
The Hornets shot 54.8% in the second half, and outscored the Wildcats 41-32 in the final 20 minutes.
Delaware State won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Wildcats 32-25. Casey Walker led the Hornets with a game-high nine rebounds.
DSU improved to 5-0 all-time vs. Wilmington. The Hornets will travel to ACC country for their next game. Delaware State returns to action on Monday (Nov. 14) at Georgia Tech. Game time is 7:00 p.m. in Atlanta.
