Dover, Del. — Tyshawn Bell recorded his third career double-double, including a personal-best 23 points; and Amere May tallied 24 points to lead Delaware State to a 90-74 win over Florida A&M in a MEAC men’s basketball contest in Memorial Hall this evening.
The Hornets snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 11-13 overall and 5-4 in the MEAC. The Rattlers fell to 0-23 and 0-10 to remain the only NCAA Division I team without a win this season.
Bell’s 12 rebounds also marked a career-high, while his five three-point field goals tied his personal- best. His previous career scoring high was 21 points on two occasions. His top rebounding total was 11 entering the contest.
May led the Hornets in scoring for the 13th time and topped the 20-point mark in a game or the seventh time this season.
Jermaine Ruttley led four Florida A&M players in double-figures with a game-high 30 points.
Delaware State led 19-17 before opening up a little breathing room.
May hit two three-pointers to highlight a 10-0 DSU run. His second triple during the spurt gave the Hornets a 29-17 lead with 9:52 left in the first half.
Florida A&M pulled to within six later in the half and trailed 41-32 at the break.
The Hornets used a 10-2 run early in the second half to regain a double-digit cushion. Kendal Williams capped off the run with a jumper to stretch the lead to 51-38 with 17:412 left to play.
After the Rattlers pulled to within 54-48, Bell knocked down a three-pointer to spark another DSU spurt. May ended the rally with a free throw to give the Hornets a 66-53 lead at the 10:58 mark of the second half.
Florida A&M trailed 66-56 when the Hornets scored 16 of the next 20 points to take control for good. Bell’s second three-pointer of the rally gave DSU its biggest lead, 82-60, with 6:31 left in the game. May also had six points during the spurt.
The Rattlers could get no closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
Delaware State was 31-for-67 from the field (46.3%), including 14-of-29 from three-point territory in the contest (48.3%). The Hornets’ 14 three-pointers tied a single-game record also shared by the 1993-94 and 2010-11 squads.
Florida A&M shot 39% from the field (23-for-59), including eight-of-23 from beyond the arc (34.8%).
Delaware State won the rebound battle 41-39. The Hornets had 17 assists on their 31 field goals, while committing just nine turnovers in the game.
The Hornets return to action on Saturday at Maryland-Eastern Shore. Game time is 4 p.m. in Princess Anne, Md.
