Hampton, Va. (Feb. 29, 2016) --- Delaware State suffered a more than five-minute second half field goal drought , enabling Hampton to open up a double-digit lead in its 79-65 win over the Hornets on Senior Night at the HU Convocation Center Monday evening.
The win clinched the 2015-16 MEAC regular season title for the Pirates, who will be seeking their second straight conference tournament championship next week.
Hampton also completed a season sweep of the Hornets to improve to 18-9 overall and 13-2 in the MEAC.
Delaware State dropped its third game in a row to fall to 7-23 and 5-10.
Hampton's Quinton Chievous led all players with 29 points on 13-for-17 shooting from the field, and 14 rebounds. In two games against DSU this season, he has tallied 50 points and 33 boards.
Lawrence Cooks added 16 points, while Reginald Johnson had 16 and Brian Darden 15 for the Pirates.
DeAndre Haywood was high scorer for Delaware State with 18 points on eight-of-14 shooting from the field, while Devin Martin added 11 points and a team-high three assists for the Hornets.
DSU trailed 16-7 early in the contest, but outscored the Pirates 28-10 over a 10-minute stretch of the first half to also build a nine-point lead. Mrdjan Gasevic capped off the rally with a follow-up basket to give the Hornets a 35-26 lead with 1:58 to go before halftime. The first half run was keyed by the play of the Hornet reserves, who combined for 24 points in the opening 20 minutes.
Hampton scored the last five points of the half to cut Delaware State's lead to 35-31 at the break.
After missing eight of their first 10 shots from the field, the Hornets hit 12 of their last 21 to close out the half.
Delaware State hit the first basket of the second half to open up a 37-31 lead.
Hampton responded with a 9-0 run, and pulled ahead 40-37 on a put back by Chievous with 15:09 left in the game.
The Pirates led 44-39 when the Hornets pushed back. Morgan capped off an 11-4 run with a three-pointer to give DSU a 50-48 lead with 10:28 remaining.
It would be Delaware State's last field goal for the next five-minutes-25 seconds. By the time Joe Lewis hit the next Hornet shot from the floor, a three-pointer, Hampton had opened up a 63-52 lead.
DSU pulled to within six points on a Haywood lay-up with 3:30 remaining, could get no closer the rest of the way.
The Hornets will wrap up the 2015-16 regular season at home against Coppin State on Thursday (Mar. 3). Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall following the DSU/Coppin St. women's contest. Delaware State's men and women basketball seniors will be honored between games.
