2019-20 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL
"HORNETS" (2-15; 1-2 MEAC) vs. NO. CAROLINA CENTRAL "Eagles" (6-12; 3-2 MEAC)
Sat., Jan. 25, 2020 - 4:00 p.m.      
Durham, N.C. (McDougald-McLendon Arena - 3,500)
 
THE GAME  
Delaware State (2-15; 1-2 MEAC) returns from a nearly two-week break to take on MEAC rival North Carolina Central. The Hornets have been idle since a 98-77 loss to North Carolina A&T on Jan. 13. DSU only trailed 50-46 at the break and pulled to within two points early in the second half, but could get no closer. The Aggies led by as many as 25 points in the final 20 minutes. DSU's John Crosby (sr.) led all players in the game with 28 points on eight-for-14 shooting from the field (4-9 3pt FGs) and eight-of-10 at the free throw line. Myles Carter (jr.) came off the bench to add 14 points, while Fahim Jenetto (so.) led all players with 10 rebounds vs. in the Hornets' last outing. Crosby is No. 1 in the MEAC and ninth among all NCAA Div. I players in scoring at 22.1 points per game. He has reached double figures in scoring in 16 of the Hornets' 17 games, topping the 20-point mark in 10 games and scoring 30-or-more in four contests.  Ameer Bennett (jr.) is DSU's second leading scorer (11.2 ppg) and top rebounder (7.0 pg) 
 
North Carolina Central (7-12; 3-2 MEAC), currently tied for fourth in the MEAC standings, is trying to bounce back from a 66-57 loss at Florida A&M on Monday. The Eagles shot just 33 percent in the first half and trailed 27-17 at the break. Florida A&M led by as many as 23 points in the second half. C.J. Keyser came off the bench to lead four NCCU double-figure scorers with 13 points vs. Florida A&M. Jabri Blount is tops on the Eagles and second to DSU's John Crosby among all MEAC players in scoring at 19.4 points per game.  Blount, a preseason All-MEAC Third Team selection, is also third in the league in rebounding at 9.1 per game.         
 
HORNETS vs. Eagles Series History (NCCU leads 25-17)   
The teams are meeting for the second time in two weeks. Delaware State won the first contest, 68-66, in dramatic fashion on a shot at the buzzer by John Crosby on Jan. 11 at DSU's Memorial Hall. The Hornets trailed 44-29 at the half and were behind by 13 points with 11 minutes left to play. Crosby led four Delaware State double-figure scorers with 18 points in this year's first meeting between the Hornets and Eagles  DSU's John Stansbury added 15 points, while Ameer Bennett tallied 11 points and a team-high six rebounds in the game. NCCU's Jabri Blount led all players with 26 points and 13 rebounds in this year's first DSU/NCCU meeting. The Jan. 11 Hornet victory also snapped a six-game NCCU win streak in the series.