Dover, Del. (Dec. 29, 2022) --- Delaware State trailed by just single digits near the five-minute mark of the game, but ran out of gas in a 60-46 loss to Penn State of the Big 10 in the Hornets' final contest before Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play begins next week. The Nittany Lions won their fourth straight game to improve to 10-3 this season, while Delaware State dropped its 11^th in a row to fall to 1-12. Seth Lundy led three double-figure scorers for Penn State with a game-high 15 points, and also topped the team with 10 rebounds. O'Koye Parker came off the bench to lead the Hornets with 11 points, highlighted by three three-point field goals on three attempts, in nine minutes of play. Brandon Stone added 10 points, while guard Martaz Robinson led all players with 11 rebounds for the Hornets.
Penn State never trailed in the contest, but had a tough time breaking away from the Hornets. The Lions failed to hold a double-figure lead throughout the first half. Delaware State only trailed 23-20 when Corey Perkins nailed a three-pointer with 7:56 to play in the first half, and was behind just 27-22 at the break.
Penn State scored the first five points of the second half, and opened up a 32-22 lead on a three-pointer by Andrew Funk with 19:03 left to play. The Hornets answered with a 7-0 run on a three-pointer by Jevin Muniz and back-to-back baskets by Robinson to pull to within 32-29.
The Lions responded with seven straight points, and stretched their lead to 39-29 on a lay-up by Kebba Njie at the 13:48 mark of the second half.
After Penn State opened up a 46-33 lead, Parker drilled three-pointers on back-to-back Delaware State possessions. His second three cut the Lions' advantage to 46-39 with 8:29 left to play. Parker's third three-pointer of the game pulled the Hornets to within 49-42 with 6:49 remaining, but the Hornets could get no closer the rest of the way.
Delaware State was better on three-point shots than overall shooting during the game. The Hornets were eight-for-21 on three-point attempts (38.1%) but just 17-for-56 overall from the field (30.4%). Penn State was 22-for- 60 overall from the field (36.7%) but only nine-of-36 from beyond the arc (25%).
Delaware State held a slight edge in rebounding 40-38.
The Hornets begin their 2022-23 MEAC schedule on Jan. 7 at Howard (4:00 p.m.) in Washington, D.C. Delaware State's MEAC home opener is Jan. 9 against defending conference champ Norfolk State in the second game of doubleheader at7:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall. The Delaware State and Norfolk State women will begin the twin-bill with a 5:30 p.m. contest.