Orangeburg, S.C. (Feb. 10, 2020) --- South Carolina State shot a blistering 57.9% from the field to highlight its 100-86 MEAC men's basketball victory over Delaware State this evening.
The Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 10-12 overall and 5-5 in the MEAC, while the Hornets dropped their third in a row to fall to 3-18 and 2-7.
Damani Applewhite led five double-figure scorers for SC State with 24 points on seven-for-eight shooting from the field and 10 free throws on 16 attempts. Ian Kinard added 21 points on six-for-eight shooting, including four three-point baskets (4-for-8).
Delaware State's John Crosby, the MEAC's top scorer, led all players with 26 points. Crosby was 10-for-15 from the field, including two three-pointers (2-4). He also led all players with seven rebounds in the contest.
Crosby has topped the 20-point mark in 11 games this season, including four with 30-or-more points. He needs 37 points to become the first DSU player since Amere May in 2014-15 to reach the 500-point mark in a season.
Pinky Wiley tallied 19 points, while Omar Peek-Green contributed 13 points and Myles Carter 12 for the Hornets.
Carter has reached double figures in scoring in three of the last four games after scoring 10-or-more points in five of the Hornets' first 19 games.
South Carolina State took control early in the contest, opening up a 20-7 lead on a lay-up by Zach Sellers less than nine minutes into the game.
The Hornets used a 7-0 first half run to get back into the game. The rally started with a three-pointer by Peek-Green, and Crosby finished the spurt with a jumper to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 33-27 with 3:34 to go before halftime.
DSU pulled to within 39-35 after a free throw by Peek-Green with 13 seconds to go before halftime, but SC State scored a basket just before halftime to lead 41-35 at the break.
Delaware State only trailed 41-38 after Wiley nailed a three-pointer on the first possession of the second half.
The Bulldogs answered with an 18-6 run, and stretched their lead to 59-44 with 15:38 left to play.
SC State led by as many as 17 points in the second half, but the Hornets rallied to cut the deficit to 71-65 with 7:20 left to play.
The Bulldogs outscored DSU 21-9 over the next over the next three-minutes-22 second s to put the game away.
SC State shot 62.1% in the second half (18-for-29) and outscored the Hornets 59-51 in the final 20 minutes.
Delaware State hit 19 of its 33 second half shots for a 57.6 percent mark.
STINGERS
… DSU's 86 points were its most against a Division I opponent this season and most in a MEAC game since the 2017-18 campaign
… The Hornets' .492 shooting percentage tied for its best this season (Feb. 1 vs. Coppin State)
… DSU's begins a two-game home stand this Saturday (Feb. 15) vs. Florida A&M. Game time s 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall.