Dover, Del. (Dec. 17, 2011) ---Despite missing three starters, Delaware State put up a valiant effort before falling to Tennessee State 59-55 in a men's basketball contest in Memorial Hall this evening.

The Hornets (4-6) led 27-21 at the half, but were outscored 38-28 in the final 20 minutes.

Tennessee State's Robert Covington led all players with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Covington was 8-for-11 from the field and 6-of-7 at the free throw line. He scored 20 of TSU's 38 second half points. Patrick Miller (11) was the only other player in double figures for the Tigers (5-6).

Casey Walker led four Delaware State players in double figures with 13 points. Walker has led the Hornets, or tied for the team high, in each of the last six games. Tyshawn Bell came off the bench to add 12 points for DSU. Bell was 3-for-3 from the field (one three-pointer) and 5-of-5 at the free throw line in the contest. Amere May tallied 12 points, while Marques Oliver had 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds for the Hornets.

Delaware State played without starting guards Jay Threatt (injury) and Tahj Tate (suspension), and center Kendall Gray (injury).

"I'm really proud of our effort against a solid opponent," said Delaware State head coach Greg Jackson. "I was pleased that we were able to control the tempo for much of the game, but Tennessee State's depth was too much for us to overcome."

The Hornets used a 9-2 run to take control in the first half. Oliver caped off the rally with a lay-up to give DSU a 19-2 lead with 5:52 left in the first half. Another lay-up by Oliver gave the Hornets their biggest lead, 27-17, with 1:57 to go before intermission.

Delaware State led by six at the break.

The Hornets opened up their biggest lead of the second half, 39-31, on a follow-up dunk by Oliver with 12:36 left to play.

Covington nailed a three-pointer on Tennessee State's next possession to spark a 12-2 run by the Tigers. He gave TSU its first lead of the second half, 43-41, on a dunk with 9:33 left to play, his ninth and tenth points of the rally.

Tennessee State stretched its lead to 55-47 on two free throws by Wil Peters with 2:41 remaining.

Delaware State pulled to within 56-53 on two free throws by Bell with 1:12 left. After a TSU turnover on its next possession, Walker missed a potential game-tying three point shot for the Hornets.

The Tigers hit three of four free throws in the final 29 seconds to seal the win.

The Hornets were 19-for-51 from the field (37.3%) and 3-of-11 from three-point territory. Tennessee State was 10-for-19 from the floor in the second half (52.6%) and 18-of-46 for the game (39.1%).

TSU outrebounded the Hornets 32-29, while each team committed just nine turnovers.

Delaware State returns to action on Dec. 30 at the University of Georgia.