South Bend, Ind. (Nov. 18, 2011) --- Despite a career-high 29 points by Tahj Tate (fr.; Easley, S.C.), the Delaware State men's basketball team could not contain a balanced Notre Dame attack in a 93-69 loss to the Irish at the Joyce Center this evening.
The Hornets dropped their second straight game to fall to 1-1, while the Irish improved to 4-0.
Tate was 9-for-17 from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point territory. He was also 7-for-11 from the free throw line. His point total is the most by a DSU player since Donald Johnson scored 31 vs. UMES on March 5, 2009. Tate is averaging 22.0 points in his three games with the Hornets this season.
He was the only Delaware State player to reach double figures in scoring in the Notre Dame contest.
Scott Martin led four Notre Dame players in double figures with 23 points. His total included four three-point field goals. Alex Dragicevich added 18 points and Jerian Grant 17 for the Irish.
Notre Dame's Jack Cooley had 11 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.
The Irish outrebounded the Hornets 46-24 in the contest.
Tate was a one-man show for the Hornets in the early going. He scored 13 of Delaware State's first 15 points, including three three-point field goals, to give the Hornets a 15-11 lead.
Notre Dame responded with a 24-4 run to take control of the game. Dragicevich capped off the run with a basket to give the Irish a 35-19 lead with 4:38 left in the first half.
The Irish led by as many as 17 in the first half before settling for a 43-30 advantage at the break.
Delaware State opened the second half with a spurt to get back into the game. Tate capped off a 10-3 Delaware State run to start the second half with a three-pointer to pull the Hornets to within 46-40 with 16:52 left to play.
Notre Dame answered with a 16-7 run to regain control. A basket by Tom Knight finished off the run to give the Irish a 62-47 lead with 12:24 remaining in the game.
The Hornets could get no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
Marcus Oliver and Kendall Gray added nine points each for Delaware State, while Tyshawn Bell came off the bench to score eight. Gray also had six blocks in the contest, one shy of the school record seven by Aaron Fleetwood in 2006. Jay Threatt had seven points, seven assists and three steals for DSU. Threatt now has 181 career steals, two away from the school record 183 by Emanuel Davis (1988-91).
Delaware State returns to action on Wednesday at home against Philadelphia Biblical. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall, following the DSU/NJIT women's basketball contest.
