2014-15 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES
“HORNETS” (10-10; 4-2 MEAC) vs. So. Carolina State “Bulldogs” (5-17; 5-3 MEAC)
Sat., Jan. 31, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Orangeburg, S.C. (Smith-Hammond-Middleton Center – 3,200)
Live TV: n/a
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Twitter updates: @DSUAthletics
Delaware State Head Coach Keith Walker (Clemson, '81): 15-16 at DSU (1st year, plus 11 games as interim in 2013-14); 106-118 career (9th year); 2-0 vs. SCSU; 9-7 MEAC regular season
SCSU Head Coach Murray Garvin (Eastern Kentucky, '98): 20-42 at SCSU and career (third year); 1-2 vs. DSU
THE GAME
The Hornets (10-10; 4-2 MEAC) visit MEAC rival South Carolina State, looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking defeat in their last outing. DSU is coming off a 55-54 loss to MEAC leader North Carolina Central last Monday. The Hornets came up short when Amere May missed two-of-three free throws with 0.4 seconds left to play, allowing the Eagles to escape with the win. May was at the line after being fouled on a long three-point attempt in the final seconds. Tyshawn Bell was high scorer for the Hornets with 13 points, including the 1000th of his career on a three-point shot with 1:57 left to play. May added 12 points, while Kendall Gray pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds in the contest. The loss to NC Central snapped a four-game win streak for the Hornets. May is Delaware State's leading scorer at 17.8 points per game, while Gray is the nation's leading rebounder (12.8 pg) and also tops the MEAC in blocks with 57. The Hornets are tied with Howard for fourth place in the current MEAC standings.
SC State (5-17; 5-3 MEAC) has won two of its last three games, including a 65-56 victory over Hampton in its most recent outing last Monday. Jalen White and Gabe McCray led the Bulldogs with 14 points each in the contest, while McCray and Edward Stephens topped the team with seven rebounds each. SC State posted an impressive 73-72 overtime win at UMES on Jan. 19 during its most recent road swing; and has a 71-63 victory over the University of Houston to its credit this season (Dec. 20). Stephens leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 11.4 points per game. Darryl Palmer is the team's top rebounder at 7.0 per game, while Ty Solomon in No. 1 on the squad with 59 assists. Karon Wright is SC State's best three-point shooter with 47. The Bulldogs currently hold down the sixth spot in the 2014-15 MEAC standings.
DSU vs. SCSU SERIES HISTORY (SCSU leads 53-30 )
The Hornets and Bulldogs are meeting for the second time in two weeks and for the 84th time in the series. Delaware State won this season's first meeting 60-49 on Jan. 17 in Dover, Del. The Hornets trailed 31-26 at the half, but outscored the Bulldogs 34-18 in the final 20 minutes. DSU forced SC State into 17.9% shooting from the floor in the second half (seven-for-39). Kendall Gray had 16 points and a career-high 23 rebounds to lead the Hornets in this year's first meeting. He also had a career-high five assists and five blocks in the contest. Amere May contributed 16 points and Kendal Williams 10 to the DSU win. Edward Stephens was the only SC State player in double figures with 13 points. The last time the teams met at SC State, the Bulldogs came out on top 62-60 during the 2012-13 season.
