Dover, Del. (Feb. 4, 2012) --- Delaware State held Norfolk State to one point in the first 8:44 of the game en route to a wire-to-wire 67-50 victory over the MEAC leading Spartans before a capacity crowd in Memorial Hall this evening.
The Hornets won their fourth straight game to improve to 8-11 overall and 5-3 in the MEAC. The Spartans lost their second in a row to fall to 16-8 and 8-2.
Freshman guard Amere May, starting in place of injured leading scorer Tahj Tate (15.2 ppg), led four Delaware State players in double figures with 14 points. Jay Threatt contributed 13 points, six assists and six steals, while Marques Oliver (4-6 FGs) and Tyshawn Bell added 12 points each for the Hornets. Oliver also led all players with nine rebounds, while Bell had a game-high four three-pointers to give him eight threes in the last two games.
Delaware State also played without starting center Kendall Gray due to injury. Gray was the MEAC leader in blocks entering the contest (3.2 pg).
He was replaced in the starting line-up by senior James Marcellus, who had career highs of nine points (4-5 FGs) and seven rebounds in his seventh game of the season.
Kyle O'Quinn was high scorer for Norfolk State with 15 points. Brandon Wheeless and Chris McEachin added 13 each for the Spartans.
Delaware State forced Norfolk State to miss its first eight shots, and opened up a 13-1 lead on a jumper by May with 11:46 left in the first half.
The Spartans hit their first field goal of the game on a layup by McEachin with 11:16 left in the opening frame, ending a streak of nearly 22 minutes in which Delaware State did not allow a field goal over a two-game span. .
The Hornets held North Carolina A&T without a field goal in the last 13 minutes of their 56-41 victory last Monday.
Delaware State opened up a 15-3 lead on another basket by May with 10:02 remaining in the half.
After Norfolk State pulled to within 22-16, the Hornets answered with an 8-2 run to regain a double-digit lead. Delaware State stretched its lead to 30-18 on a three-pointer by Bell with 1:31 to go before the half.
The Hornets led 30-20 at intermission.
Delaware State opened up a 45-29 lead on a three-pointer by Casey Walker with 12:18 remaining.
Norfolk State responded with a 10-0 run, and pulled to within 45-39 on two free throws by O'Quinn with 8:04 left.
The Hornets answered with a 10-0 run of their own, highlighted by two three-pointers by Bell, to regain control of the game. DSU opened up a 55-39 lead on two free throws by Oliver with 4:47 remaining.
Delaware State led 62-48 when Norfolk State's Rob Johnson committed a foul, then accessed two technical fouls, resulting in five free throws by Threatt.
The Hornets were 23-of-56 from the field (41.1%), including 7-for-23 from three-point territory (30.4%). Norfolk State hit 19 of its 45 shots from the floor (42.2%), including 2-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Delaware State won the rebound battle 35-32. The Hornets committed nine turnovers, while forcing Norfolk State into 16.
DSU goes for its fifth straight win on Monday against defending MEAC champ Hampton. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 IN Memorial Hall.
