Orangeburg, S.C. (Mar. 7, 2013) ---Matthew Hezekiah scored on a tip-in with four seconds left to give South Carolina State a 62-60 win over Delaware State in the regular season finale for both teams at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Center this evening.
DSU's Tahj Tate missed the potential game-winning shot from about 35 feet out as time expired.
The Hornets led by as many as 11 in the first half and was ahead 36-26 at the break.
DSU opened up a 44-32 lead after a lay-up by Tate with 17:12 left in the second half.
The Hornets were outscored 36-24 in the final 20 minutes.
Delaware State ends the regular season with a 13-17 overall record and an 8-8 mark in the MEAC.
The Hornets are tied with North Carolina A&T for sixth place in the final MEAC standings, although DSU holds the tie-breaker over the Aggies as a result of its 53-44 win over the Aggies on Feb. 4.
The official 2013 MEAC Tournament pairings have yet to be released, although the No. 6 tournament seed will face the 11th seed in a first round tournament game next Tuesday (Mar. 12) at 9:00 p.m. at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.
Howard University is 11th in the final MEAC standings with a 4-12 league record. Delaware State swept the Bison in two meetings this season.
South Carolina State took its first lead of the game, 54-53, on a three-pointer by Khalif Toombs with 6:56 left to play.
The lead changed hands three times over the next two minutes. Delaware State took its final lead, 57-56, on a tip-in by Marques Oliver with 4:43 remaining in the game.
The Bulldogs answered with back-to-back buckets, and opened up a 60-57 lead on a follow-up slam by Hezekiah with 36 seconds on the second half.
After a Delaware State timeout, Tate nailed a three-point shot with 22.7 seconds left to tie the game at 60-60.
On the ensuing possession by SC State, Toombs misfired on a running jumper; but Hezekiah tipped the rebound off the glass and in the basket from about three feet away to give the Bulldogs the lead with four seconds left.
Casey Walker was high scorer for DSU with 18 points. His performance was highlighted by three three-point field goals. Tate added 17 and Oliver 13.
Darryl Palmer led three SC State players in double figures with a game-high 21 points. Toombs added 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. Hezekiah chipped in 10 for the Bulldogs.
SC State was 16-for-27 from the field in the second half (59.3%). The Bulldogs snapped a five-game losing streak to end the regular year at 6-23 and 2-14.
