“HORNETS” (3-14; 0-4 MEAC) vs. BETHUNE-COOKMAN “Wildcats” (6-11; 1-2 MEAC)
Sat., Jan. 19, 2019 - 4:00 p.m.
Daytona Beach, Del. (Moore Gym - 1,500)
Live TV: n/a
Live Video: .com; Live Audio: HSRN.com (DSU broadcast)
Live Stats: .com
Twitter updates: @DSUmbb
Delaware State Head Coach Eric Skeeters (Coppin State, '97): 3-14 at DSU and career (first season)
BCU Head Coach Ryan Ridder (Embry-Riddle '08): 24-25 at BCU (Second year); 1-0 vs. DSU
THE GAME
Delaware State (3-14; 0-4 MEAC) is on the road for the next three games, beginning with a visit to MEAC 2018-19 preseason favorite Bethune-Cookman. The Hornets have dropped their last six games, including their four MEAC contests. Delaware State is coming off a 71-70 heartbreaking home loss to defending MEAC champ North Carolina Central last Monday. The Eagles scored the game-winning basket with 1.6 seconds left. The Hornets trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half, but pulled ahead 70-69 on a three-pointer by Pinky Wiley (so.) with 6.7 seconds remaining in the game. Wiley led three Delaware State double-figure scorers with 19 points, highlighted by four-of-eight shooting on three-pointers. Kevin Larkin (gr.) and Saleik Edwards (sr.) added 14 points each for the Hornets in the NC Central contest. Larkin is DSU's leader in scoring at 16.8 points per game to rank fourth in the MEAC. He also tops the Hornets in rebounding at 8.8.per contest, second-best in the league. Larkin, a transfer from Niagara, has the top scoring game in the MEAC this season with his 40-point performance vs. Cairn on Dec. 3. Wiley has climbed to second on the Hornets in scoring at 11.1 points per game to stand at 18th in the MEAC.
Bethune-Cookman (6-11; 1-2 MEAC) is trying to bounce back from a 75-68 loss to Norfolk State in its last outing on Jan. 14. The loss overshadowed a stellar performance by Wildcat forward Cletrell Pope, who scored 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field, and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Dondre Duffus added 19 points in the game for BCU. Pope is tops on the Wildcats in scoring at 11.8 points per game and leads all MEAC players in rebounding at 11.6 per contest. Bethune-Cookman was selected as the favorite to win the 2018-19 MEAC regular season race in a poll of league head coaches and sports information representatives.
HORNETS vs. Wildcats Series History
This is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this season. Bethune-Cookman has won the last two contests, including a 85-78 triumph at Delaware State during the 2017-18 season. The Hornets won the last time the teams played at Bethune-Cookman 88-82 in overtime during the 2016-17 campaign. The Wildcats hold a 37-35 lead in the all-time series.
