2022-23 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL
"HORNETS" (1-13; 0-1 MEAC ) vs. NORFOLK STATE  "Spartans" (11-5 ; 1-0 MEAC)
Mon. Jan. 9, 2023 - 7:30 pm
Dover, Del.  - Memorial Hal (Bayhealth Court - 1,800
Live Video: YouTube (DESU-TV)
Live Audio: HSRN.com
 
THE GAME 
Delaware State (1-12; 0-1 MEAC) welcomes defending MEAC champ Norfolk State to Memorial Hall for the Hornets' first home game of the new year. DSU has dropped the last 12 games since posting its only win of the season, 104-67 vs. Immaculata, on Nov. 10. The Hornets are coming off an 84-64 loss to Howard in their 2022-23 MEAC opener last Saturday. The Bison shot 61.5% from the field in the first half 16-for-26) and 58.8% for the game (30-for-51) to highlight their win. O'Koye Parker came off the bench to lead Delaware State with 13 points, highlighted by three-of-five shooting on three-point shots. Parker is now 21-for-39 from beyond the arc this season (.538). Martaz Robinson added 11 points, while Ray Somerville led all players with seven rebounds for the Hornets. Howard hit 16 of its 26 first half shots, and led 41-33 at the break. Delaware State was outscored 43-31 in the final 20 minutes. The Hornets played at Howard without their leading scorer and rebounder for the season, Brandon Stone, who sat out the contest due to a knee injury. Stone is tops on the Hornets in scoring at 12.0 points per game and in rebounding with 5.1 per contest. He is in his first season with Delaware State after previously attending Robert Morris University (Pa.). Khyrie Staten Is second on the Hornets in scoring at 9.7 points per game. Parker has climbed to third on the team in scoring at 8.2 points per game. He has led the Hornets in scoring in each of the last two games. First-year guard Jevin Muniz (fr.) is Delaware State's fourth-leading scorer at 7.2 points per game. Muniz is also second on the club with 14 three-pointers.
 
Norfolk State (11-5; 1-0– MEAC) has won two straight and six of its last seven games. The
Spartans are coming off a 57-46 MEAC win over visiting Maryland-Eastern Shore in the league  opener for each team.  Reigning MEAC Player-of-the-Year Joe Bryant led all players with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Kris Bankston grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for the Spartans in the contest. Bryant is fourth in the MEAC in scoring at 16.7 points per game entering Monday's contest. Bankston's in the league's third-leading rebounder at 6.9 per game.      
 
THE SERIES  (Norfolk State leads 36-21 )
This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the Hornets and Spartans during the 2022-23 regular season. Norfolk State swept three contests against Delaware State last season, winning 80-51 at home and 69-66 at DSU during the regular season, and completing the sweep with a 74-66 MEAC Tournament victory in Norfolk, Va. The Spartans have won the last 13 meetings between the teams. Delaware State's last win in the series was a 67-64 victory on Feb. 20, 2016 in Dover, Del. The Hornets and Spartans are also scheduled to meet this season on Feb. 13 in Norfolk, Va.