Dover, Del. (Jan. 10, 2015) --- Delaware State was outplayed in the late stages of the game en route to a 73-67 loss to Morgan State in the Hornets' MEAC opener in Memorial Hall today.
The loss overshadowed a monster performance by Hornet center Kendall Gray, who recorded his third straight double-double and ninth of the season with 18 points and a career-high 22 rebounds. His rebound total is tops in the MEAC and second among all NCAA Division I players in a game this season.
Gray was seven-for-11 from the field, and also tallied two blocks and two steals in the contest.
Cedric Blossom led three Morgan State (3-14; 1-2 MEAC) players in double figures with 24 points. Blossom was seven-for- 12 from the field and 10-of-12 at the free throw line. He also grabbed ten rebounds in the contest. Blake Bozeman added 22 points for the Bears. His performance was highlighted by four three-point field goals (4-9).
Zech Smith also recorded a double-double for the Bears with 10 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.
Amere May had 17 points and a team-high six assists, while Kendal Williams and Aric Dickerson added 10 points each for the Hornets.
The Hornets (6-9; 0-1 MEAC) got off to a slow start in the game, falling behind 14-2 after a three-pointer by Morgan State's Bozeman with 12:13 left in the first half. After hitting its first shot of the game on a jumper by Gray, DSU missed six straight shots and committed five turnovers during the next seven minutes.
The Hornets began to turn things around midway through the half, outscoring the Bears 15-1 to take the lead. Delaware State pulled ahead 17-15 when May capped off the rally with a three-pointer at the 7:58 mark of the first half.
The Hornets led 30-28 at the break.
DSU outscored Morgan State 7-2 to start the second half, and opened up a 37-30 lead with 16:48 left to play.
The Hornets led 47-41 after a three-pointer by Dickerson before Morgan State made its decisive push.
The Bears tied the game at 51-51 on a three-point play by Smith with 9:14 remaining in the game. The score was 53-53 when Bozeman hit his fourth three-pointer of the game to give Morgan State the lead for good.
The Bears missed seven of their last 20 free throws but the Hornets failed to take advantage.
DSU missed 11 straight shots, including five from three-point territory, during a nearly eight minute stretch after Morgan State pulled ahead.
The Hornets were 26-for-62 from the field (41.9%), but just five-of-18 on three-point shots (27.8%).
Morgan State was 19-of-52 overall from the floor (36.5%) and six-for-20 on three-point shots (30.0%).
Delaware State outrebounded the Bears 49-30, but was hurt by 19 turnovers. Morgan State turned the ball over just eight times in the contest. The 49 rebounds were the second most for the Hornets this season.
DSU returns to action on Monday (Jan. 12) at Howard. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
