Hornets Muscles Past Bison
Hornets Muscles Past Bison
By Tyrone McCandies
Washington, DC- The defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champions Delaware State Hornets used a devastating 21-2 run over the span of six and half minutes to blow past Howard, 60-46, in a MEAC conference clash Saturday night before a crowd of 1,503 at the Burr Gymnasium. The lost dropped the Bison to 2-12 overall and 1-4 in the MEAC, while the Hornets improved to 6-10 and a perfect 4-0 in the conference.
It is always a defensive struggle when the Bison and Hornets meet and there was no difference today.
The Bison managed to take a 19-10 lead in the first half thanks to an 11-2 run. Howard’s defense was able to frustrate Pre-Season All-MEAC picks Tracey Worley and Joshua Bluntt, holding the duo to 3 points over the first 16 minutes then the Hornets began to take control of the ball-game. Delaware State began to solve the riddle that was the Bison defense and end the half on a 12-2 run taking a 22-21 into the locker room.
The second half began much like the first half ended. The Hornets scored the first 9 points and held Howard scoreless in the first three minutes until a Darek Mitchell hit a 3-pointer at the 17:30 mark.
“They are the MEAC champions,” said Bison head coach Gil Jackson. “They stuck to their game plan and took advantage of the mismatches on the inside.”
Howard could never get closer than six and when it appeared that they would threaten, Bluntt, who finished the game with 15 points, made big plays to keep Howard at arms length. “Bluntt’s is a MEAC Player-of-the-Year caliber player and he mad some big jump shots to show why,” said Coach Jackson.
Howard has dropped their last 4 games and will begin a four game road trip that begins next Saturday at Bethune Cookman.
GAME NOTES: Will Gant led Howard with 13 points…Joe Dickens added 11 points for the 11 points for the Hornets….Howard shot 29 percent from the field in the first half and 33 percent for the game…the next Howard home game will be Saturday, February 4 against the Spartans of Norfolk State.
