2022-23 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL
"HORNETS" (1-5; 0-0 MEAC ) vs. ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN "Terriers" (2-4; 0-0 NEC)
Wed. Nov. 30, 2022 - 7:30 pm
(Brooklyn, N.Y.   - The ARC)

THE GAME 
Delaware State (1-5; 0-0 MEAC) wraps up a five-game road swing with a visit to St. Francis Brooklyn of the Division I Northeast Conference (NEC). The Hornets have dropped their last five games, including an 80-53 setback at Liberty University last Saturday.  The Flames hit 19 of their 29 first half shots (65.5%), including 10-of-16 on three-point attempts (62.5%), to highlight their performance. Khyrie Staten was the only Delaware State player in double-figures with 16 points. Staten hit six of his 11 shots, highlighted by a career-best four three-pointers on five tries. Aaron Lemon-Warren came off the bench to add eight points, while reserve O'Koye Parker chipped in with seven for the Hornets. After Delaware State took its only lead of the game, 5-3, on a bucket by Staten less than three minutes into the contest, Liberty answered with an 18-2 run, and opened up a 21-7 advantage on a bucket at the 10:31 mark of the first half. The Flames stretched their lead to 33-11 on a three-pointer with 7:38 to go in the half. Liberty was ahead 49-26 at the break. The hot first-half shooting by the Flames overshadowed Delaware State's respectable 11-for-22 performance from the field, including 4-of-9 on three-pointers, in the opening 20 minutes. The second half was more competitive, with Liberty only outscoring the Hornets 31-27. Delaware State won the rebound battle 37-34, but committed 17 turnovers to eight for the Flames. Staten has moved into the top spot on the Hornets' scoring chart, averaging 15.6 points per game this season. He's also the team leader with 12 three-point field goals (12-26, .462). Forward Brandon Stone is second on the team with a 13.2 point per game average and the number rebounder at 6.6 per game.   
After wining its opener against Mt. Saint Mary College (NY) 94-56, St. Francis has dropped four of its last five games to stand at 2-4 this season. The Terriers fell to South Florida 75-60 in their most recent outing on Nov. 25 in Tampa, Fla. St. Francis is led in scoring by Tedrick Wilcox, Jr. with an 11.8 point -per game average. He also has a team-high 12 three-point field goals. Zion Bethea is second on the Terriers in scoring at 9.3 pointe per game, while Josiah Harris is third in scoring at 8.5 points per game, while topping the team with a 9.5 per-game rebound average.   

THE SERIES (SFC leads 3-1) 
The Hornets and Terriers are meeting for the second straight year, and fifth time overall. St. Francis won for the second straight time in the series, posting a 75-61 victory on Dec. 11, 2021 at Delaware State. Rob Higgins led the Terriers with a game-high 17 points, while teammate Michael Cubage added 16. Dominik Fragala led three double-figure scorers for the Hornets with 16 points, while current Hornet Corey Perkins (so.) had 14 points (5-10 FG)  and a team-high three assists in the last meeting between then teams. Delaware State's lone win in the series was on Dec. 17, 2014 at St. Francis. The Hornets came out on top 72-64 behind Amere May's 48-point performance, the second-highest point total in team history. May was 16-for-25 from the field, including six three-pointers on 10 attempts, and perfect on 10 free throws.