Daytona Beach, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2013) --- Marques Oliver scored a career-high 24 points to lead Delaware State to a 68-52 MEAC win over Bethune-Cookman at Moore Gym today. The Hornets won their second straight game to improve to 8-10 overall and 3-1 in the MEAC.
Oliver was 9-for-10 from the field and 6-of-8 at the free throw line. He also tied for game-high honors with six rebounds. His previous high scoring game was 23 points vs. Coppin State as a freshman during the 2009-10 season. The senior scored 16 first-half points to lead the Hornets to a 33-17 lead at the break.
Oliver now has 940 career points at Delaware State.
Freshman Miles Bowman (3-4 FGs) came off the bench to add 11 points, while A.J. Thomas dished out a career-high 10 assists for the Hornets.
Delaware State shot a season-best 57.8% from the field (26-for-45), keyed by 15-of-22 shooting in the second half (68.2%).
The Hornets led 13-10 before going on a late first half tear to take control of the game. DSU ran off 13 straight points, starting with a three-point shot by Jabari Joyner and capped off by two Bowman free throws, to open up a 26-10 lead. Oliver scored eight points during the spurt. His 16 first half point are tops in a half by a Hornet player this season.
Delaware State opened up its biggest first half lead, 31-14, on a lay in by Amere May off a feed from Tate with 2:44 to go before intermission.
The Hornets forced Bethune-Cookman into three-of-27 shooting from the floor in the first half (11.1%).
Bethune-Cookman pulled to within 11 points on two occasions early in the second half, the last time on a lay-up by Adrien Coleman to cut the Hornets lead to 44-33 with 13:54 left to play.
Delaware State answered with a 15-4 run, and stretched their lead to 59-38 on a three-point basket by Tyshawn Bell with 6:27 remaining.
The Hornets held their biggest lead of the game, 64-41, on Joyner's second three-point shot of the game with 4:18 left.
Oliver also tied Tahj Tate (vs. Delaware and UMES) and Casey Walker (vs. Penn State) for the top scoring game by a Hornet this season.
The win also snapped the Hornets' three-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
Delaware State looks for its third straight win on Monday at Florida A&M. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Tallahassee, Fla.
The next DSU home game is Saturday, Feb. 2 against North Carolina Central (4:00 p.m.)
