Dover, Del. (Jan. 11, 2014) --- Delaware State shot less than 28% from the field, including zero-for-17 from three-point territory, in a 73-60 MEAC men's basketball loss to Hampton in Memorial Hall today.
The loss snapped a two-game win streak for the Hornets, who fell to 4-11 overall and 0-3 in the MEAC. The Pirates improved to 8-8 and 3-0.
Kendall Gray recorded his third double-double of the season for the Hornets, tallying a team-high 17 points and leading all players with 10 rebounds. Tyshawn Bell came off the bench to score 16 points (8-8 FTs), while Casey Walker added 10 (6-7 FTs) for DSU.
Hampton's Du'Vaughn Maxwell scored a game-high 21 points. Maxwell was nine-for-12 from the field. He also led the Pirates with eight rebounds and dished out four assists.
Reserve Lawrence Cooks added 13 points (5-7 FGs; 2-2 3pt. FGs) for the Pirates.
The Hornets never led in the contest.
The score was 7-7 when Hampton pulled ahead for good. Maxwell capped off a 9-3 Pirate run with a lay-up to give the visitors a 23-14 lead with 4:04 left in the first half.
The Hornets pulled to within 24-20 on two free throws by Gray with 1:58 to go before halftime.
DSU trailed 28-24 at the break.
Hampton outscored the Hornets 13-6 in the first 4:23 of the second half, and opened up a 41-30 lead on a Maxwell dunk with 15:37 left to play.
Delaware State cut the Pirates lead to 50-41 after two free throws by Bell at the 10:54 mark of the second half, but could get no closer the rest of the way.
Hampton led by 15 points on four occasions in the final 7:15 of the game; the last time on a jumper by Maxwell to pull ahead 69-54 with 1:51 left.
Delaware State was 17-for-61 from the field (27.9%) and 26-of-37 at the free throw line (70.3%),
Hampton made good on 29 of its 55 shots from the field (52.7%), including 19-of-27 in the second half (70.4%).
Delaware State was held without a three-point field goal for the first time in 594 games. The last time the Hornets failed to hit a three was Jan. 6, 1996 in an 89-84 loss at Bethune-Cookman.
DSU returns to action on Monday against Norfolk State. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
