Dover, Del. (Jan. 27, 2016) --- Delaware State outscored North Carolina Central 25-7 in the final 11 minutes en route to a 71-60 win over the Eagles in a MEAC men's contest in Memorial Hall this evening.

The Hornets have won two in a row for the first time this season to improve to 3-17 overall and 2-4 in the MEAC.  The defending MEAC regular season champion Eagles dropped their third in a row and fourth in the last five games to fall to 7-14 and 2-5.

Delaware State trailed 53-46 after NCCU's Rashaun Madison nailed a three-point shot with 11:57 left to play.

The Hornets answered with an 11-3 run, and pulled ahead 57-56 on a three-pointer by Devin Morgan at the 6:59 mark of the second half. Morgan scored five points and Dana Raysor was perfect on four free throw attempts during the spurt.

After the Eagles regained the lead 58-57 on two free throws by Patrick Cole, Delaware State took control of the game for good.

Kevon Waller scored the go-ahead basket and added two free throws to give the Hornets a 61-58 lead. Scott Sill drilled a follow-up shot and Raysor hit a lay-up off an offensive rebound to stretch the lead to 65-58 with 4:27 remaining.

Sill nailed a three-pointer and Morgan had a steal and lay-up down the stretch to seal the win.

The Hornets held the Eagles to just two points in the last 5:59 of the game. NCCU missed five of their six shots and committed three turnovers during the span.

North Carolina Central was in control for much of the first half, opening up a 23-12 lead after a lay-up by Madison with 6:33 to go before the break.

The Hornets outscored the Eagles 19-9 during remainder of the half to pull to within 32-31 at the break.

Delaware State stormed out of the gate in the second half, scoring the first 10 points to regain the lead. Waller capped off the run with a lay-up off a steal by Raysor to give DSU a 41-32 with 17:40 left to play. Waller scored five points and Haywood four during the rally.

North Carolina Central responded by outscoring the Hornets 21-5 over the next six minutes to open up a seven point lead.

DSU won the second half 40-28.

Haywood led three Delaware State players in double figures with 20 points. He was seven-for-nine from the field and five-of-six at the free throw line, in addition to leading the Hornets with a career-high six assists.  

Waller came off the bench to have his best performance as a Hornet. He scored a career-high 19 points on seven-of-11 shooting from the field, and tied his career-best with three three-pointers (3-5). Waller also pulled down a season-high seven rebounds.

Raysor contributed 15 points and six rebounds to the win.

Morgan scored eight points, but led all players with his collegiate high of 11 rebounds.

The Hornets won the rebound battle 39-35, marking just the second time this season they have outrebounded an opponent.

Madison led four NCCU players in double figures with 18 points, highlighted by four three-point field goals. Dante Holmes added 14 points, while Dajuan Graf had 12 and Patrick Cole 10 for the Eagles. Cole was averaging 27 points in four MEAC games entering the contest.

Delaware State outshot NCCU in the contest.

The Hornets were 24-for-57 from the field (42.1%) and nine-of-28 on three-point shots (32.1%).
The Eagles shot 36.8% overall from the floor (21-for-57) and 33.3% on three-point attempts (11-for-33).

STINGERS
Haywood has reached the 20-point mark in three games this season and seven times in his career … Waller's previous high was 11 points vs. Coppin State on Feb. 16, 2015 during his freshman season… Morgan has hit at least one three point shot in each of the last 16 games ... the Hornets won after trailing at the half for the first time this season.