Newark, Del. (Dec. 7, 2022) --- Jameer Nelson, Jr. scored a game-high 27 points, 20 in the second half, and backcourt mate L.J. Owens added 21 to lead Delaware to a 77-69 victory over visiting Delaware State in the Route 1 Rivalry (presented by Delaware 529 Education Savings Plan) at the Carpenter Center this evening. The Hens won the meeting between the state's two NCAA Division I men's basketball programs for the third time in a row to improve to 5-4 this season. The Hornets dropped their seventh straight game to fall to 1-8 on the year.
Corey Perkins (so.; Wilmington, Del.) came off the bench to lead four double-figure scorers for Delaware State with a career-high 18 points on seven-for-12 shooting from the field, including three three-pointers on three attempts.  Brandon Stone (sr.; Scottsdale, Pa.) added 12 points, while Cameron Stitt (so.; Charlotte, N.C.) and Martaz Robinson (jr.; Baltimore, Md.) chipped in 11 points each for the Hornets.    
After Delaware scored the first six points of the game, the Hornets ran off the next nine, and opened up a 9-6 lead on a lay-up by Stone off of a feed from Staten with 14:53 left in the first half. Delaware State led by seven points on two occasions in the half, the last time at 19-12 on a three-pointer by Stone at the 9:20 mark of the opening frame. The Hornets maintained a lead for the remainder of the half, and was ahead 33-30 at the break.
Delaware State outscored the Hens 8-6 to start the second half, and led 41-36 on a shot in the lane by Jevin Muniz with 15:53 left to play.
Delaware answered with a 10-3 run, and pulled ahead for the first time in the second half, 46-44, on a steal and lay-up by Nelson with 13:39 remaining in the game.
After the Hornets regained the lead 49-47 on a three-pointer by Perkins, the Hens scored 11 of the next 13 points, and pulled ahead 58-51 on another basket by Nelson off a Delaware State turnover at the 9:17 mark of the second half.  
Nelson scored again on a shot in the lane to give Delaware a 71-62 lead with 4:35 left to play.
The Hornets were outscored 47-36 in the second half.
Delaware State outshot Delaware 42.2%  to 40% for the game. The Hornets were 27-for-64 from the field, including eight-of-15 on three-point shots (53.3%), while the Hens connected on 22 of their 55 shots, including eight-of-20 from beyond the arc (40%).
The Hens held a big advantage at the free throw line, hitting 25 of 32 from the stripe, while the Hornets went to the line eight times, hitting seven.
Delaware State won the rebound battle 39-36, although Delaware committed just eight turnovers, compared to 13 for the Hornets.
Delaware State returns to action  this Saturday (Dec. 10) at home against Georgian Court. The start time for the game in Memorial Hall (Bayhealth Court) has been moved to 3:30 p.m.. The contest will air live on HBCU Go TV and HSRN.com (Hornets' radio).