HAMPTON, Va. (February 7, 2009) ? A strong defensive effort, holding the Pirates to 25.0 percent shooting from the field, led to a 49-39 win for Delaware State (6-18, 4-5 MEAC) over Hampton (10-12, 4-5 MEAC) on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Convocation Center in Hampton, Va.
"I thought tonight's game was dictated by our defensive intensity," said Head Coach Greg Jackson. "We came out the first 15 minutes and played some outstanding defense. We played so hard on the defense that we stood around a bit on the offensive end. But, for the most part, this game was won on preparation. Our kids had a great night of practice (last night) and I think they came in here with that intensity."
The Hornets began the game with a slow start on the offensive side, shooting 27.3 percent from the floor during the first 20 minutes of action. DSU turned things around in the second half, converting 12-of-24 from the field (50.0 percent), including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. For the night, Delaware State shot 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from the 3-point line. Defensively, the Hornets held Hampton to 25.0 percent shooting on the night, completely shutting down the Pirates from 3-points land (11.5 percent). On the night, Hampton converted just 3-of-26 from 3-point land.
The Hornets forced Hampton to commit 20 turnovers, resulting in eight DSU points. Delaware State had its share of mistakes, committing 19 turnovers.
Senior Donald Johnson led all Hornets with a game-high 16 points. The Prince George, Va., native shot 6-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-7 from beyond the arc. Johnson also grabbed six rebounds and recorded three assists. Frisco Sandidge and Arturo Dubois led DSU in rebounding with seven boards each. Dubois scored three points and tallied one blocked shot. Sandidge poured in eight points and registered a game-high two blocked shots in 21 minutes of action.
Hampton was led Donte Harrison who registered the games only double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds). Harrison shot 5-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Vincent Simpson, who recorded two of the team's three total 3-pointers, finished the night with nine points and five rebounds.
The first began with an 8-2 run by Delaware State through the first eight minutes of action. The Hornets held Hampton to just seven points with 5:05 left in the first half. DSU took a 12-7 lead at the 3:38 mark on a layup by Sandidge before the Pirates went on a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game (14-12) with 2:14 left in the half. With Hampton holding its biggest lead of the game (18-13), Johnson drained a two-point bucket with 0:27 seconds left in the half, 18-15. DSU entered halftime, trailing by three.
The Hornets came out in the second half, converting two-straight 3-pointers to take a 21-18 lead with 17:07 left in the game. Hampton tied the game, 21-21, following a dunk by Harrison with 13:43 on the clock however, DSU went on a 5-0 run to take a 26-21 lead with 12:40 left in the game. The Hornet defense clamped down, maintaining the team's lead for the remainder of the game. During the final five minutes of action, DSU went on a 17-7 run to close out the contest, 49-39
With the win, Delaware State snapped a two-game conference losing skid and earned the team's first Saturday victory this season.
Delaware State will travel to Washington, D.C., to face the Howard Bison on Monday, Feb. 9. Tip off is slated for 8:00 p.m.
