DSU Hornets fly by Cheyney in final MEAC tuneup

DOVER, Delaware -- DeAndre Haywood scored a career-high 25 points and Kendall Gray recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead Delaware State to a 90-68 men’s basketball win over Cheyney in Memorial Hall this evening.

The Hornets (5-8) shot a season-high 56.1% from the field, hitting 32 of their 57 shots in the contest. DSU was also 10-for-22 from three-point territory (45.5%).

Haywood was nine-for-11 from the floor, including three-of-four on three-point shots. He was also four-for-five at the free throw line.

Haywood’s previous career-high was 23 points in the Hornets’ 77-75 overtime win at Penn in the season opener on Nov. 15.

Gray also had five blocks in the game, marking the 21st time in his career with at least that many. He now has 43 blocks this season. The Dover, Del., native was No. 1 in the MEAC and 10th among all NCAA Division I players in blocks per game entering the contest. Gray was also second in the MEAC and 13th in the nation in double-doubles before the game.

Amere May was the only other DSU player in double figures with 10 points.
Charles Burley had six points and led all players with six assists for the Hornets.

Kevin Larkin was high scorer for Cheyney with 19 points, while Jerrod Johnson came off the bench to add 18 for the Wolves.

Delaware State scored the first 11 points of the game, and opened up a 30-14 lead after back-to-back three-pointers by reserves Aric Dickerson and Kevon Waller midway through the first half.

The Hornets opened up their biggest first half lead, 38-16, on Waller’s second three-point shot of the game at the 7:39 mark of the opening period.

Cheyney outscored DSU 12-6 in the last 2:32 of the first half to trim the Hornets’ lead to 50-35 at the break.

The Wolves hung tough in the opening minutes of the second half, and pulled to within 55-45 on a three-pointer by with 15:46 left to play.

Delaware State answered with a 12-2 run, and stretched its lead to 67-47 on a three-ball by Haywood at the 12:13 mark of the second half. He scored 10 of Hornets’ 12 points during the spurt.

The Hornets led 69-52 before another 12-2 rally to take control of the game for good. Gray capped off the run with a lay-up to give DSU a 81-54 lead with 7:26 left to play.

Cheyney could get no closer than 21 points the rest of the way.

The Hornets will begin the 2014-15 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference portion of the schedule in their next contest on Saturday (Jan. 10) at home against Morgan State. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m., following the DSU/Morgan State women’s contest in Memorial Hall.



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