Daytona Beach, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2016) --- Bethune-Cookman scored the first 11 points of the game and never looked back en route to an 85-56 win over visiting Delaware State in a MEAC men's basketball contest at Moore Gymnasium today.

The Wildcats won their fourth straight game to improve to 9-15 overall and 6-4 in the MEAC. The Hornets dropped their second MEAC contest in a row to fall to 4-19 overall and 2-6 in conference play.

Diamonte Lewis came off the bench to lead four Bethune-Cookman players in double-figures with a game-high 21 points.  Jordan Potts added 14 points, highlighted by four three-point field goals, and a team-high five assists, while Quinton Forest tallied 11 points and LaRon Smith 10 for the Wildcats. Forest was five-for-five from the field, while Smith had game-highs of 15 rebounds and five blocks.

Freshman guard Devin Morgan led Delaware State with 15 points. His performance included a career-high five three-point field goals (five-for-eight), tops for a DSU player this season.

Aric Dickerson came off the bench to added 11 points for the Hornets.

Joseph Lewis was one point shy of a double-double, tallying nine points and grabbing a career-best 12 rebounds for the Hornets.  DSU's Artem Tavakalyan, making his first career start, had a career-high eight assists to lead all players.  

Bethune-Cookman started quickly, opening up an 11-0 lead after a dunk by Forest four-minutes-17 seconds into the contest.

Delaware State didn't get on the board until Dana Raysor hit a three-point shot at the 14:45 mark of the first half.

The Wildcats responded with a 6-0 run, and opened up a 17-3 lead on a three-ball by Potts with 13:52 left in the opening stanza.

The Hornets were down 30-10 before outscoring the Wildcats 13-6 in the final six minutes of the half to trail 36-23 at the break.

Delaware State could not cut into the deficit as the teams traded baskets in the first five minutes of the second half. The Hornets trailed 45-30 before BCU took control of the game for good.

Lewis capped off a 20-4 run with a follow-up basketball to give the Wildcats a 65-31 lead with 9:26 left to play. He had 11 points during the rally, including the last three BCU baskets.      

The Hornets could get no closer than 23 points the rest of the way.

Bethune-Cookman shot 65.5% in the second half (19-for-29) and 55.9% for the game (33-for-59), the second-best mark by a DSU opponent this season.

Delaware State was 21-for-60 from the field in the game (35.0%), including 10-of-28 from three-point territory (35.7%). The Hornets were just four-for-13 from the free throw line.

DSU was outbounded 41-34, marking the 20^th time in 23 games that its opponent has won the battle of the boards

The Hornets remain in the Sunshine State for their next contest on Monday (Feb. 8) at Florida A&M. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., following the DSU/FAMU women's contest at the Lawson Center in Tallahassee, Fla.   

STINGERS
Joseph Lewis' 12 rebounds were the most by a Hornet this season … his nine points in the game were the most he's scored since tallying 13 vs. Lamar on Nov. 21 … Dickerson has six three-point field goals (six-for-12) in the last two games … Morgan has at least one three-pointer in 19 straight games … the Hornets played without junior guard DeAndre Haywood and sophomore guard/forward Todd Hughes due to violation of team rules, according to head coach Keith Walker … Haywood was tied with Morgan for the team scoring lead at 10.3 points per game entering today's contest.