Dover, Del. (Dec. 30, 2020) --- Delaware State cut a double-digit second half deficit to three down the stretch , but came up short in a 65-59 men's basketball loss to Manhattan in the Hornets' 2020-21 home opener in Memorial Hall this afternoon.
The Jaspers snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 2-3 this season, while DSU is winless in five games.
Elijah Buchanan led three double-figure scorers for Manhattan with a game-high 16 points. Ant Nelson added 14 points, while Warren Williams tallied 10 points and led all players with 11 rebounds for the Jaspers.
Myles Carter (sr.) was high scorer for Delaware State with 12 points, while local product Zack Kent (Magnolia, Del.) had 11 points and tied for the Hornets' lead with six rebounds. Kent, a sophomore, also recorded four blocks for the second time in four games to raise his team-high total to nine this season.
Pinky Wiley had nine points and a game-high seven assists for DSU.
Delaware State scored just nine points in the last 14 minutes of the first half and trailed 33-23 at the break.
Manhattan led by 13 points twice in the second half, the last time at 46-33 after two free throws by Nelson with 12:24 left to play.
The Hornets responded with a 6-0 run to pull to within single digits. Wiley converted a three-point play, Kent nailed a jumper and Ronald Lucas scored on a follow-up basket to account for the scoring that cut the DSU deficit to 46-41 at the 10:58 mark of the second half.
Manhattan stretched its lead to 50-43 after a basket by Nelson with 9:04 left, but Shaft Clark (Caesar Rodney HS) and Dominik Fragala scored back-to-back buckets to pull the Hornets to within 50-47 at the seven minute mark, the closest they had been since the two minute mark of the first half.
The Jaspers responded with a basket by Williams and a three-point play by Nelson to open up a 55-47 lead with 5:40 left.
Delaware State again clawed to within three points (56-53) after Kent hit one of two free throws with 1:43 remaining, but Marques Watson and scored in the lane and Williams followed up a miss with a lay- up to give Manhattan a 60-53 lead with 48 seconds left.
The Jaspers hit five-of-six free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the win.
"I'm pleased with how well we battled back after falling behind against a good Manhattan team ," said Delaware State third year head coach Eric Skeeters. "Like many teams across the country, we've missed games and had limited practice time due to Covid-19 protocols, but we're working hard to get into shape and develop some team chemistry. This game proves we are making progress."
DSU also has three players on the injured list, and Fahim Jenneto left the game late in the first half due to an injury.         
The Hornets started quickly in the contest, opening up a 10-3 lead after four minutes on a basket  in the lane by Jenneto.  
Delaware State was outscored 16-8 over the next minutes and fell behind 19-18 on a three –pointer by Manhattan's Buchanan with 6:48 to go in the first half.
The Hornets scored just nine points in the last 14 minutes of the half and trailed at the break 33-23 after a buzzer beating three-pointer by Manhattan's Ethan.
Delaware State continued its early season shooting woes, hitting just 25 of their 66 shots from the floor (37.9%), including a season-low three three-pointers in 19 attempts (15.9%).
DSU, however, turned in its best defensive effort of the season, limiting Manhattan to 34.4% shooting from the field (21-for-61). The Jaspers also committed 14 turnovers, while the Hornets tallied 12.  
Manhattan won the rebound battle 48-39.
STINGERS
Clark made his debut for the Hornets after missing the first four games … Kent also had four blocks in the season opener at Wake Forest on Nov. 25 … Wiley has hit at least one three-point field goal in 16 straight games, dating back to the 2019-20 season … he also raised his career point total to 944 … The Hornets begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play with games at Coppin State next Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 4-5).