Dover, Del. (Jan. 14, 2012) --- Maryland-Eastern Shore outscored Delaware State 8-5 in overtime en route to a 63-60 win in Memorial Hall Saturday evening. The Hawks snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 4-12 overall and 1-2 in the MEAC.
The Hornets lost their seventh straight to fall to 4-10 and 1-2.
UMES avenged a 78-68 loss to Delaware State on Dec. 3. The Hawks also snapped a seven-game losing streak at DSU's Memorial Hall, winning in the building for the first time since Feb. 7, 2004.
Ronald Spencer led three UMES players in double figures with 17 points. Percy Woods added 13 points and Louis Bell 10 for the Hawks.
Casey Walker was high scorer for Delaware State with 15 points. Tahj Tate added 13 for the Hornets. Marques Oliver recorded his second double-double of the season, collecting 11 points and 10 rebounds for DSU.
The score was 55-55 at the end of regulation.
UMES led 36-28 at intermission, and opened up the biggest lead of the game, 46-34, on a jumper by Spencer with 14:24 left in the second half.
Delaware State answered with a 12-4 run, and pulled to within 50-48 on a jumper by Jay Threatt with 8:28 left to play. Threatt had game highs of eight assists and five steals in the contest.
After the Hawks opened up a 55-50 lead, Walker knocked down a jumper and Oliver hit a lay-up with 1:21 left in regulation to pull the Hornets to within a point.
On the ensuing possession by UMES, Bell missed a desperation three-point attempt to beat shot clock with 53 seconds left in the second half.
After Delaware State's Tyshawn Bell pulled down the rebound, Oliver was fouled by the Hawks' Tyler Hines with 32 seconds remaining in regulation. Oliver hit one of two free throws to tie the game.
UMES had the final possession in regulation, but Woods missed a long three-point attempt as time expired.
In the overtime, the Hawks scored first on a jumper by Spencer with 4:20 left. Delaware State tied the game at 57-57 on a dunk by Kendall Gray on the next possession.
UMES regained the lead, 59-57, on two free throws by Ishaq Pitt with 3:35 remaining.
Delaware State led for the first time since the 3:43 mark of the first half when Walker hit a three-point shot to give the Hornets a 60-59 lead with 1:42 left in the extra session.
After UMES missed a shot on its next possession, the Hornets failed to stretch their lead when Threatt missed two free throws with 41 seconds left to play.
The Hawks regained the lead for good, 61-60, when Pina Guillaume hit a 15-foot jumper with 31 seconds left in the overtime.
Delaware State committed a turnover on its next possession, giving the ball back to UMES. Guillaume hit one of two free throws with 14 seconds left to give the Hawks a 62-60 lead.
DSU's Tyshawn Bell missed a three-point attempt on the ensuing possession.
Louis Bell of UMES was then fouled, but missed the second of two free throws to give the Hawks a 63-60 lead.
Walker missed an off-balanced three-point attempt from 35 feet away as time expired.
UMES was 24-for-57 from the field (42.1%), including four-of-16 from three-point territory. Delaware State hit 22 of its 58 shots (37.9%), including 7-of-21 from beyond the arc. The Hornets won the rebound battle 38-to-36, while each team committed 15 turnovers.
Delaware State has nine blocks in the contest, five by Gray and four by Oliver. DSU leads the MEAC in blocks at just over seven per game.
The Hornets return to action on Jan. 21 at home against Bethune-Cookman. Game time is 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
