Baltimore, Md. (Feb. 22, 2020) --- Delaware State led by 13 points with five minutes left to play, but faltered down the stretch of a 98-86 loss to Coppin State in a MEAC men's basketball contest today.
The Hornets dropped their sixth game in a row to fall to 3-23 overall and 2-10 in the MEAC this season. The Eagles snapped a two game skid to improve to 9-20 and 5-9.
Delaware State led 82-69 after a tip-in by Omari Peek-Green with 5:07 left in the game, but was outscored 29-4 the rest of the way.
Coppin State's comeback began with a lay-up by Dejuan Clayton to with 4:58 remaining in the game. A little more than two minutes later, CSU's Kamar McKnight drilled a three-pointer to put the Eagles ahead 86-84 with 2:44 left.
During the Coppin State rally, the Eagles were five-for-five from the field, including three three-pointers, and also benefitted from four three throws as a result of a flagrant foul call against the Hornets.
Delaware State was hit just one of four shots and committed three turnovers during the CSU spurt.
The Hornets built their double-digit lead with a solid stretch of play midway through the second half.
The rally began after Coppin State had built a 59-49 second half lead. Delaware State chipped away at the deficit during a four-minute span and pulled ahead 68-67 on a three-pointer by Fahim Jenetto with 9:55 left to play.
Jenetto hit another three-pointer on the next DSU possession, followed by threes from John Crosby and Omari Peek-Green, along with a lay-up by Myles Carter to give the Hornets a 78-67  lead at the 7:04 mark of the second half.         
Crosby, the MEAC's leading scorer entering the game, led all players with 27 points, his 13^th outing with 20-or-more points this season. Crosby was 10-for-20 from the field (two three-pointers) and perfect on five free throw attempts.
He has 525 points this season, becoming the first Hornet to pass the 500-point mark since Amere May tallied 672 during the 2014-15 season.
Jenetto added a season-high 16 points, highlighted by four three-point field goals (4-9) to tie his career-best.
Peek-Green tallied 12 points (5-8 FGs) and led the team with 11 rebounds, while Pinky Wiley had 11 points and a game-high six assists.
McKnight led five Coppin State double –figure scorers with 23 points. Brendon Medley-Bacon added 16 points and topped all players with 13 rebounds for the Eagles.
The Hornets return to Baltimore for their next game on Monday at Morgan State. Start time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. DSU is looking to avenge an 81-68 loss to the Bears in this season's first meeting