Greensboro, N.C. (an. 24, 2014) --- Delaware State broke open a close game with a solid second half effort in a 67-52 win over North Carolina A&T in a MEAC contest at the Corbett Sports Center this evening. The Hornets won their season-best fourth straight game to improve to 10-9 overall and 4-1 in the MEAC.
DSU's string of wins is its longest since posting an eight-game streak during the 2011-12 season. The margin of victory is also the Hornets' biggest against a Division I opponent this season.
The Hornets led 26-23 at the break and outscored the Aggies 41-29 in the final 20 minutes. DSU led by as many as 25 points in the second half.
Delaware State's Amere May led all players with 21 points, his fifth game with 20-or-more points this season. May was eight-for-15 from the floor, including three three-pointers (3-7).
DeAndre Haywood was five-for-six from the field and two-of-three on three-point shots in a 12-pont performance for the Hornets. He also tied for the team lead with four assists.
Kendall Gray had 10 points and 12 rebounds for DSU, his sixth double-double in the last seven games; and 12th this season.
Tyshawn Bell scored eight points for the Hornets, all in the second half. Bell is now 12 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
The Hornets led by as many as seven points in the first half before settling for a three-point lead at intermission.
DSU outscored the Aggies 11-4 to begin the second half, and opened up a 37-27 lead on a basket by Scott Sill off a feed from Haywood with 16:10 left to play. Bell hit a jumper and three-pointer, while Haywood scored four points during the spurt.
The Hornets led 40-33 before another rally to take control of the game for good.
DSU scored the next 10 points as part of an 18-2 run to put the game away. Gray capped off the spurt with two free throws to give the Hornets a 58-35 lead with 7:50 remaining in the game.
May had seven points and Gray six, while NCA&T missed each of its five shots and committed two turnovers during the decisive DSU run.
The Hornets held their biggest lead, 64-39, on a three-pointer by Haywood at the 4:09 mark of the second half.
Delaware State hit 50% of its second half shots (16-for-32), including six-of-15 from three-point territory (40%).
The Hornets forced North Carolina A&T into 31.3% shooting in the second half (10-for-32). The Aggies were three-for-11 from beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes.
North Carolina A&T lost its second straight to fall to 5-16 and 2-5. Ahmad Abdullah led three Aggies in double figures with 17 points.
The Hornets return to action on Monday (Jan. 26) with a key MEAC showdown against reigning conference champ and current league leader North Carolina Central. The nationally televised contest (ESPNU) tips-off at 7 p.m. in Durham, N.C.
NCCU is 7-0 in the MEAC after a 78-76 win over Coppin State today.
