Norfolk, Va. (Mar. 11, 2020) --- Delaware State cut a 25-point first half deficit to single digits after the break, but couldn't complete the comeback in a 92-75 MEAC Tournament quarterfinal loss to top seed and defending champ North Carolina Central at the Scope Arena this evening.
The loss ends the season for the eighth-seeded Hornets (6-26), who were eliminated from the tournament by the Eagles for the second year in a row.
NCCU's C.J. Keyser came off the bench to lead four double-figure scorers for the Eagles with a game-high 26 points. Keyser was seven-for-11 from the field, including 6-of-7 on three-point shots, and perfect on six free throws.
Jordan Perkins added 17 points (7-9 FGs), while 2019-20 MEAC Player-of-the-Year Jibri Blount tallied 16 points, highlighted by 10-for-10 shooting at the free throw line, and led all players with 12 rebounds for the Eagles.
John Crosby was high scorer for Delaware State with 25 points in his final game for the Hornets, while Myles Carter came off the bench to add 17.
Playing their second game in 24 hours, the Hornets were outplayed from the start. The score was 2-2 when NCCU embarked on a 14-2 run over the next three minutes. Perkins capped off the run with a lay-up to give the Eagles a 16-4 lead less than five minutes into the game.
NC Central hit four-of-six shots from the field and two free throws, while DSU missed six-of-seven shots and committed a turnover during the Eagles' spurt.
The Eagles were ahead 21-9 before starting another run. NCCU scored 14-of-15 points during a five-minute stretch to blow the game open. The rally ended on a three-pointer by Perkins to put the Eagles on top 35-10 with 6:54 to go before halftime.
The Hornets trailed 45-20 with two-and-half-minutes to go before intermission when starting a late first-half run to put them back into contention.
DSU scored the last 12 points of the half to pull to within 45-32 at the break. Omari Peek-Green and Fahim Jenetto knocked down three-pointers, while Jenetto, Crosby and Trey Gross contributed baskets during the rally.
"I couldn't be more proud of the guys for their effort in clawing back into the game, said Delaware State second-year head coach Eric Skeeters.  "These guys fought through adversity without quitting all season, and I expected us to get back into the game."
After NCCU rebuilt its lead to 18 points after a three-pointer with 14 minutes left, the Hornets made another rally to pull to within single digits.
Delaware State outscored the Eagles 15-5 over the next five-and-a-half minutes, and cut NC Central's lead to 67-59 after two free throws by Crosby with 9:22 remaining in the game.
Crosby finished his lone season at Delaware State with 632 points, the most by a Hornet since Amere May tallied 672 during the 2014-15 campaign. The Dayton University transfer has led the MEAC in scoring throughout much of the season and ended the year with a 19.8 point per game average.
"I've known John since he was a kid in Baltimore, and although he played just one year at DSU, he will be remembered  as a big part of the successful program we are in the process of building here," said an emotional Skeeters.
The Hornets would get no closer the rest of the way and fell behind by 19 points in the final five minutes.
"The final score does not indicate how hard out guys worked," said Skeeters. "The fact that we had 22 offensive rebounds and won the rebound battle 48-40 proves the grit we displayed in the game."
Delaware State hit just 12-of-40 first half shots (30.0%), and 25-of-76 for the game (32.9%).
NC Central shot 47.4% for the game, connecting on 27-of-57 shots from the floor, including 12-for-24 in the second half (50.0%).

STINGERS
… Delaware State posted a 1-1 MEAC Tournament record for the second year in a row    
…Center Chris Sodom came off the bench to pull down a career-and-team high nine rebounds for the Hornets.  Sodom also scored four points (1-2 FG; 2-2 FT) and recorded three blocks in 15 minutes
… The Hornets improved to 4-12 in the MEAC this season after posting a 2-14 mark in 2018-19, Skeeters' first season with the team.
NCCU improved to 3-2 in all-time MEAC Tournament meetings against the Hornets.