Newark, N.J. — Delaware State ended a four-game road swing with a 69-51 non-conference loss to NJIT at the Fleisher Athletic Center Tuesday.
The Hornets dropped their third straight game to fall to 10-12 this season, while the Highlanders won for the 10th time in their last 11 games to improve to 14-10.
Delaware State struggled with its shooting right from the start, missing its first eight shots from the floor. The Hornets were just 19-for-59 from the field in the game including 6-of-21 from three-point territory.
“It’s tough to get off to a slow start against a good team like NJIT and expect to win,” said Delaware State head coach Keith Walker. “We were able to bounce back and tie the game midway through the first half, but we fell behind again due to some blown defensive assignments and too many missed shots.”
The score was 13-13 when NJIT took control of the game. Tim Coleman capped off a 21-9 run with a lay-up to give the Highlanders a 34-22 lead with 2:01 left in the first half.
NJIT led 38-24 at the break.
The Highlanders used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to blow the game open. Damon Lynn ended the run with a steal and lay-up to give NJIT a 59-35 lead with 9:50 remaining in the game.
Winfield Willis led three NJIT players in double figures with a game-high 20 points. His performance was highlighted by four three-point field goals (4-7).
Lynn and Coleman added 17 points each for the Highlanders.
Amere May was high scorer for the Hornets with 18 points, while Tyshawn Bell added 10.
Delaware State’s Kendall Gray led all players with 10 rebounds, his 10th straight game with double-figures in boards this season. Gray was tops among all NCAA Div. I players in rebounding at 13 per game entering the contest.
He also had three blocks in the contest, marking the 10th time he has recorded at least that many in a game this year.
NJIT shot 43 percent from the field, including 30 percent from beyond the arc.
The Highlanders held a 40-35 team rebounding edge.
“This is no time to hang our heads,” said Walker. “There are still plenty of MEAC games on our schedule, and we have to get back to the things that made us successful earlier in the season.”
