Tallahassee, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2010) --- Delaware State made the most of its first visit to Florida A&M's new Al Lawson Center, using a late surge to defeat the Rattlers 64-57 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference match-up Monday evening. The Hornets have won their last four games, the team's longest streak since winning nine in a row during the 2006-07 season. DSU is now 8-7 overall and 3-1 in the MEAC. Florida A&M has lost three straight to fall to 3-14 and 1-4.
Marcus Neal and Chad Wilson led four Delaware State players in double figures with 13 points each. Jay Threatt and Frisco Sandidge added 10 each for the Hornets.
The game featured nine ties and seven lead changes.
The Hornets led by as many as 10 points in the first half, and held a 35-28 lead at the break.
Florida A&M fought back in the early stages of the second half, and grabbed a 45-44 lead on a three-pointer by Brandon Bryant with 11:20 left to play. The Rattlers held their biggest lead, 49-46, after two free throws by Rasheem Jenkins with 7:46 left to play.
The Hornets responded with a 6-0 run, and opened up a 52-49 lead on two free throws by Neal with 4:56 remaining.
Threatt hit two free throws with 1:16 left to stretch DSU's lead to 58-53.
Florida A&M pulled to within 58-54 on the first of two free throws by Chris Walker with 1:02 left. His second free throw was rebounded by the Rattlers' Yannick Crowder, who fed Walker for a three-point basket to cut Delaware State's lead to 58-57 with 57 ticks on the clock.
On the ensuing possession, Neal scored on a driving lay up to give the Hornets a 60-57 lead with 27 seconds left.
Florida A&M had a chance to tie the score on its next possession, but Walker missed a three-point shot with 17 seconds left.
Thrett rebounded the miss, and fed Sandidge for a dunk to secure the win for the Hornets.
Delaware State will return to action this Saturday at Morgan State in a battle for first place in the MEAC standings. The defending champion Bears lead the league with a 4-0 record. Game time is 4:00 p.m. in Baltimore, Md.
