2022-23 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL
"HORNETS" (1-6; 0-0 MEAC ) vs. LONGWOOD "Lancers" (4-4; 0-0 Big South)
Sat. Dec. 3, 2022 - 3:00 pm
Dover, Del.  - Memorial Hall (Bayhealth Court) - 1,800
Live Video: YouTube (DESU-TV)
Live Audio: HSRN.com
 
THE GAME 
Delaware State (1-6; 0-0 MEAC) is back in Memorial Hall for the first time since the home opener against Immaculata on Nov. 10 to take on Longwood of the Div. I Big South Conference. The Hornets wrapped up a winless five-game road swing with an 81-73 loss to St. Francis Brooklyn on Wed. (Nov. 30). For the second game in a row, Delaware State cut a huge second half deficit to single digits before coming up short. The Hornets slashed a 20-point shortfall to two points  on three occasions late in the game before being held off by the Terriers. St. Francis led by 20 points late in the first half (41-21) and was ahead 42-26 at the break. Delaware State began to chip away at the deficit over a seven-minute stretch of the second half, and pulled to within single-digits (53-45) on a three-pointer by Cameron Stitt with 12:24 left to play. After the Terriers pulled away again to lead by 12, the Hornets scored 11 of the next 13 points, and only trailed 59-56 after a steal and jumper by Khyrie Staten with 7:55 remaining. Delaware State cut the deficit to two points on three occasions over the next four minutes, the last time on a lay-up and free throw by Still to pull to within 68-66 at the 3:29 mark of the second half. St. Francis responded with a 6-0 run, and stretched its lead to 74-66 on a bucket with 2:08 remaining in the game. Delaware State could get no closer than five points the rest of the way. Staten was high scorer for the Hornets with 16 points, highlighted by 8 for 9 shooting at the free throw line. Stitt came off the bench to add 12 points, while DSU guard Martaz Robinson led all players with a career-high 11 rebounds. For the season, Staten is tops on the Hornets in scoring at 15.7 point per game, and also leads the team with 12 three-point field goals and 12 steals. Newcomer Brandon Stone is second on the team with a 12.3 point-per-game average and is the Hornets' number rebounder at 6.0 per game. Corey Perkins, a preseason All-MEAC Third Team selection leads DSU with 21 assists.
 
After a 0-2 start, Longwood has won four of its last six games. The Lancers, however, are coming off a hard-fought 71-68 loss at the University of San Diego last Monday (Nov. 28). DeShaun Wade led four double-figure scorers for the Lancers with a game-high 22 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field, including five three-pointers on eight attempts, in the contest. Isaiah Wilkins and Walyn Napper share the team scoring lead at 11.3 points per game this season, although Wilkins did not play in the last outing.  Wade averages 9.5 points per-game and has a team-high 17 three-point field goals on 37 attempts (.459).     
 
THE SERIES (Longwood leads 3-0) 
The Hornets and Lancers are battling for the second straight year, and fourth time overall, although this will be the first meeting at Delaware State. The teams last met on Dec. 4, 2021, with the Lancers coming out on top 78-58 in Farmville, Va. The Hornets only trailed 34-27 at the half, but were outscored 44-31 in the final 20 minutes. Among current Hornets, Corey Perkins had four points and six assists, while  Khyrie Staten Came off the bench to score three points. Longwood also defeated the Hornets 89-73 during the 2018-19 season, won the first meeting between the teams 69-65 at tournament in Las Vegas during the 2008-09 campaign.