2015-16 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES
“HORNETS” (7-22; 5-9 MEAC) vs. Hampton “Pirates” (17-9; 12-2 MEAC)
Mon., Feb 29, 2016 - 8:00 p.m.
Hampton, Va. (HU Convocation Center - 7,000)
Live TV: n/a
Live Audio: HamptonPirates.com
Live Video: HamptonPirates.com
Live Stats: HamptonPirates.com
Twitter updates: Click here
Delaware State Head Coach Keith Walker (Clemson, '81): 30-46 at DSU (2nd year, plus 11 games as interim in 2013-14); 121-148 career (10th year); 2-2 vs. Hampton; 19-21 in MEAC regular season
Hampton Head Coach Edward “Buck” Joyner (Johnson C. Smith, '95): 116-105 at Hampton and career (seventh year) ; 7-6 vs. DSU
THE GAME
Delaware State (7-22; 5-9 MEAC) wraps up its 2015-16 road schedule against defending MEAC champ and current league leader Hampton. The Hornets have lost their last two games after winning the previous three. DSU fell to UMES 74-65 in its last outing this past Saturday. The Hornets trailed by 17 points in the first half, but pulled to within three midway through the second half before falling short. Freshman guard Devin Morgan was high scorer for DSU with 20 points, tying for game-high honors. He has 51 points in the last two games. Morgan was six-for-nine from the field, including four-of-seven on three-point shots. DeAndre Haywood was the only other Delaware State player in double figures with 16 points in the game. Morgan is the Hornets' leader in scoring (12.1 ppg), rebounding (3.2 pg), assists (76) and three-point field goals (62). Haywood is second on the team with an 11.3 points per game.
The first place Pirates (8-21; 5-9 MEAC) have won four straight and six of their last seven games. Hampton is coming off a 68-67 victory over Howard on Saturday. Dionte Adams hit a lay-up and free throw with four seconds left for the game-winning points. Reginald Johnson led three Hampton players with 18 points, while Lawrence Cooks added 14 and Adams 12. Quinton Chievous had a team-high 11 rebounds in the contest, giving him 30 in the last two games. Johnson is tops on the team and second in the MEAC in scoring at 18.7 points per game, while Chievous is fourth in the league in scoring at 16.8 points per game. Chievous is also the MEAC's leading rebounder at 11.1 rebounds per game. The Pirates lead the conference in rebounds per game (42.1) and rebound margin (+4.2 pg).
HORNETS vs. Pirates (DSU leads 27-25)
The Hornets and Pirates are meeting for the second time in a week. Hampton won this season's first contest 82-72 in DSU's Memorial Hall on Feb. 22. The Hornets cut a 20-point second half deficit to five before running out of gas in the contest. The loss overshadowed a career performance by DSU freshman guard Devin Morgan, who led all players with 31 points, a single-game high for the Hornets this season. Morgan was 10-for-19 from the field, including five-of-nine from three-point territory, and perfect on six free throws. Hampton's Quinton Chievous recorded a double-double, tallying 21 points (7-13 FGs) and topping all players with 19 rebounds. Reginald Johnson added 16 points, while Brian Darden contributed 11 and Dionte Adams 10 for the Pirates. Hampton has won the last two meetings between the teams, including an 82-61 victory in the 2015 MEAC Tournament championship game. The last time the teams met at Hampton, Delaware State pulled out a 74-71 win during the 2014-15 regular season.
WHAT'S AHEAD
The Hornets close out the regular season at home against Coppin State on Thursday (Mar. 3). The Senior Night contest is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
