HORNETS RETURN HOME TO FACE MEAC CO-LEADER MORGAN STATE
2022-23 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL
"HORNETS" (2-16; 1-4 MEAC ) vs. Morgan State "Bears" (11– 9; 4–1 MEAC)
Sat. Jan. 28, 2023 - 4:00 pm
Dover, Del.  - Memorial Hall (Bayhealth Court) - 1,800
Live Video: YouTube (DESU-TV)                            
Live Audio: HSRN.com

THE GAME 
Delaware State (2-16; 1-4 MEAC) returns home from a three-game road swing on a high note after snapping a 15-game skid in the last outing. The Hornets used strong second half and overtime play to notch its first MEAC win since the 2020-21 season, defeating South Carolina State 88-85 to wrap up the road swing last Monday. The victory was also the Hornets' first against a NCAA Division I opponent since the 2020-21 season finale. Delaware State trailed by 13 points at the break, but outscored the Bulldogs 45-32 in the second half to force the extra period. The Hornets won the overtime 17-14. Khyrie Staten sealed the win by hitting two free throws with two seconds left in the extra session. Staten came off the bench to lead four double-figure scorers for the Hornets with 19 points, highlighted by eight-for-nine shooting at the free throw line. Brandon Stone, also coming off the bench, was seven-for-11 from the field and perfect on four free throws, to add 18 points for Delaware State. Martaz Robinson (17) and Jevin Muniz (16) also reached double-figure point totals in the contest for the Hornets. For the season, Stone is  tops on the Hornets in scoring at 12.1 points per game and in rebounding with a 4.9 per game average. Stone is in his first season with Delaware State after previously attending Robert Morris University (Pa.). Staten s second on the Hornets in scoring at 9.6 points per game. He also has a team-high 24 steals. Robinson has scored 70 points in the last four games to climb to third on the Hornets with an 8.9 point-per-game average. He's also second on the team with 41 assists and third in rebounding at 4.4 per game. Fellow guard  Jevin Muniz is Delaware State's fourth leading scorer at 8.8 points per game and leads the club with 24 three-pointers. Shooting guard O'Koye Parker is fifth on the Hornets with a 7.0 point per game average and is second on the Hornets with 21 three-pointers on 44 attempts (.477) 

Morgan State (11-9; 4-1 MEAC) is tied with Howard and Maryland-Eastern Shore for first place in the current MEAC standings with a 4-1 lead record. The Bears have won seven of their last eight games, including a 77-71 victory over defending league champ Norfolk State in their last outing on Jan. 23. Will Thomas led Morgan State with a game-high 27 points, while Isaiah Burke added 21 points in the last outing for the Bears. Burke is second in the MEAC in scoring at 20.1 points per game, while Malik Miller is third in the league at 17.5 points per game. Miller is also the MEAC rebounding leader at 9.8 per game.              

THE SERIES  (MSU leads 64-44 )
This is the first of three scheduled meetings between the Hornets and Bears this season. Morgan State has won two straight and 11 of the last 12 meetings to open up a 64-44 advantage in the series. The Bears swept the 2021-22 season series, winning 82-70 on their home court and 76-69 at Delaware State. The teams are scheduled to meet again next Saturday (Feb. 4 @ 1 pm) in the Invesco QQQ HBCU Legacy Classic at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and on Feb. 25 at Morgan State in Baltimore, Md.
    
Also during the game, Delaware State head coach Stan Waterman and his staff will observe "Suits And Sneakers Week," honoring and supporting individuals who have or are still fighting cancer. Each coach will wear a suit with a "standout" pair of sneakers to raise awareness to the fight against cancer.