Dover, Del. (Feb. 25, 2013) --- Delaware State hit just eight-of-26 second half shots (30.8%) in a 57-50 loss to Hampton in a MEAC men's basketball contest in Memorial Hall Monday evening.
The Hornets dropped their 2012-13 home finale to fall to 12-15 overall and 7-6 in the MEAC. The Pirates improved to 12-15 and 9-4.
Ramon Mercado came off the bench to lead three Hampton players in double figures with 12 points. Deron Powers and Emmanuel Okoroba added 11 points each for the Pirates.
Starters Marques Oliver and Amere May led Delaware State with 11 points each. Oliver, playing in his final home game, also led all players with 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double in the last six games. He also had a game-high eight blocks to tie the Hornets' single game record he shares with two others. It's the third time that Oliver, the school all-time blocks leader, has recorded eight in a game.
Delaware State led by as many as seven points in the first half, and was ahead 26-22 at the break. The Hornets forced Hampton into 36% shooting (9-for-25 FG) and 10 turnovers in the opening period.
Oliver had six points, seven rebounds and five blocks at the midway point in the contest.
Hampton scored the first four points of the second half to tie the game at 26-26.
Oliver responded with a three-point play on the ensuing possession to give the Hornets a 29-26 lead with 17:19 left in the second half.
Delaware State led 31-30 before Hampton started to take control. The Pirates scored the next 11 points, and opened up a 41-31 lead on two free throws by Du'Vaughn Maxwell with 11:42 left to play. Mercado had four points and Wesley Dunning nailed a three-point shot during the Hampton rally.
The Hornets used a 7-2 run to pull to within six. AJ Thomas capped off the spurt with two free throws to cut the Pirates' lead to 53-47 with 4:03 showing on the second half clock.
Delaware State missed each of its four shots and committed two turnovers over the next three minutes to seal its fate.
Hampton outscored DSU 35-24 in the second half.
The Hornets were 18-for-58 from the field (31.0%), including 3-of-20 from three-point territory for the game.
Delaware State closes out the 2012-13 regular season with three road games, beginning with a visit to Howard on Saturday (Mar. 2). Game time is 6:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
