DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY 2015 MEAC TOURNAMENT MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES
#5 “HORNETS” (18-16; 9-7 MEAC) vs. #6 Hampton “Pirates” (15-17; 8-8 MEAC)
Championship - Sat., Mar. 14, 2015 - 1:05 p.m.
Norfolk, Va. (Scope Arena - 11,000)
National TV: ESPN2
Live TV: ESPN2
Live Audio: n/a
Live Stats: MEACHoops.com; DSUHornets.com
Twitter updates: @DSUAthletics
Delaware State Head Coach Keith Walker (Clemson, '81): 23-22 at DSU (1st year, plus 11 games as interim in 2013-14); 114-124 career (9th year); 2-0 vs. Hampton; 14-12 MEAC regular season; 3-1 MEAC Tournament
Hampton Head Coach Edward “Buck” Joyner (Johnson C. Smith, '95): 97-95 at HU and career (sixth year); 5-6 vs. DSU
Hampton Head Coach Edward “Buck” Joyner (Johnson C. Smith, '95): 94-93 at HU and career (sixth year); 5-5 vs. DSU
THE GAME
Fifth-seeded Delaware State (18-16; 9-7 MEAC regular season) takes on No. 6 Hampton for the 2015 MEAC championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament . This is the Hornets' sixth MEAC championship appearance and first since 2007, when the Hornets ended a three-year run of title game contests. DSU captured its only MEAC title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2005. Delaware State and Hampton are each playing for the third night in a row.
The Hornets advanced to the title game with a 63-57 come-from-behind victory over top seed North Carolina Central, the defending tournament and 2014-15 regular season champion. The Eagles were 16-0 in the MEAC regular season; and had won nine straight and 19 of its previous 20 games. Amere May scored a game-high 27 points,
including 24 in the second half, to lead the Hornets in the contest. May had three of his four three-point field goals; and was nine-for-10 at the free throw line in the second half. Delaware State trailed 32-23 at the break and fell behind by 13 points early in the second half. The Hornets outscored NC Central 40-25 in the final 20 minutes.
Tyshawn Bell added 16 points in the contest for the Hornets.
Delaware State defeated No. 12 Savannah State 68-54 in the opening round and posted a 65-60 win over No. 4
Howard in the tournament quarterfinals.
The Hornets have played their last two games without starting guard Kendal Williams, who suffered an ankle injury in the opening round contest against Savannah State.
Hampton (15-17; 8-8 MEAC regular season) reached the MEAC championship game with a 75-64 semifinal win over No. 2 Norfolk State Friday evening. Quinton Chievous led four Pirates in double figures with 23 points. He was six-for-nine from the field and 11-of-13 at the free throw line. Hampton opened the tourney with a 91-71 victory over No. 11 Morgan State; and defeated No. 3 UMES 76-71 in the quarterfinals.
DSU vs. HAMPTON SERIES HISTORY (DSU leads 27-23; 2-2 in MEAC Tournament)
The Hornets and Pirates are meeting for the third time this season and fifth time in the MEAC Tournament. Delaware State swept the two 2014-15 regular season meetings, posting a 74-71 victory at Hampton on Feb. 21 and
completing the season sweep with an 85-75 win on Mar. 2 Dover, Del.
This will be the third time that the teams have met in the MEAC championship game. Delaware State won the 2005
title with a 55-53 victory on a follow-up basket by Aaron Williams with two seconds left to play in Richmond, Va. The Hornets and Pirates also met for the 2006 MEAC title. Hampton avenged the previous year's loss to Delaware State with a 60-56 victory in Raleigh, N.C. The teams last met in the MEAC Tournament in 2013, a 63-60 win for Delaware State. Three of the four previous tournament meetings have been decided by four points or less.
DSU vs. Hampton MEAC Tournament Meetings
2005 DSU 55 HU 53 Championship
2006 HU 60 DSU 56 Championship
2009 HU 51 DSU 32 Opening Round
2013 DSU 63 HU 60 Quarterfinal
