Baltimore, Md. (Jan. 9, 2016) --- Delaware State cut a 17-point second half deficit to four in the closing seconds, but could get no closer in a 63-58 loss to Morgan State in the Hornets' MEAC opener at Hill Field House today.
The loss overshadowed a career performance by DSU freshman guard Devin Morgan, who scored a career-high 27 points, including 18 in the second half, to lead all players. Morgan's point total marked a single-game high for the Hornets this season. He was 10-for-10 at the free throw line to improve to 89.7% for the season (26-for-29).
Morgan State scored the first 10 points of the game and never trailed to snap a nine-game losing streak. The Bears improved to 3-12 overall and 1-1 in the MEAC.
The Hornets fell to 1-14 overall.
Delaware State was down by as many as 14 points in the first half and trailed 32-20 at the break.
Morgan State opened up its biggest lead, 42-25, on a lay-up by Andre Horne with 15:30 left to play.
The Hornets trailed 59-47 after a Morgan State basket at the 3:42 mark of the second half.
Morgan capped off a 7-0 DSU run with a lay-up to cut the Bears' lead to 59-54 with 1:21 left.
The Hornet rookie guard hit four more free throws, sandwiched around one by Morgan State, to pull the Hornets to within 62-58 with 28 seconds remaining.
After Morgan State's Cedric Blossom missed two shots at the line, DSU had a chance to make it a one-or-two-point game, but came up empty on their next possession.
The Hornets outscored the Bears 38-31 in the second half.
Kyle Thomas came off the bench to lead Morgan State with 14 points, while Horne added 13 for the Bears.
Blossom topped the Bears with a game-high 12 rebounds. Phillip Carr had 10 boards for DSU.
Morgan State pulled down 27 offense rebounds, leading to 33 second chance points. The Bears also scored 22 points off 19 DSU turnovers.
After hitting just seven-of-22 first half shots (31.8%), the Hornets improved to 50% (11-of-22) from the field in the final 20 minutes. DSU shot 40.9% for the game (18-of-44).
Morgan State was 25-for-75 from the field (33.3%) in the contest.
The Hornets return to action on Monday (Jan. 11) with a MEAC home contest against Howard. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., following the DSU/Howard women's game.
STINGERS
Devin Morgan's 27 points vs. Morgan State are the most by a DSU true freshman since Terence Hood scored 27 vs. Florida A&M during the 1995-96 season … Morgan has at least one three-pointer in each of the last 11 games, and in 13 of the 14 contests in which he has appeared … Dana Raysor was second on the Hornets with nine points, while Todd Hughes came off the bench to add eight points on four-of-six shooting from the field … freshman center Demola Onifade had a career-high four blocks in the game to give him a team-best 17 this season.
