Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. – Delaware State guard Marcus Neal scored 12 of his 16 points after halftime, and host Norfolk State went more than 11 minutes with a point in the second half of a 54-52 loss at Echols Hall on Monday.

The loss snapped a two-game win streak for the Spartans (5-17, 4-6 MEAC), who got a game-high 18 points from Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.).

Neither team led by more than five points in a tight first half. But Deloach scored 10 points in the stanza and NSU outscored the Hornets 7-2 from the foul line to take a slim 26-23 lead into the intermission.

DSU (12-9, 7-3 MEAC) tied the game at 26-all right out of the break on a traditional three-point play by Frisco Sandidge. NSU answered with a 3-pointer by Kyle O'Quinn (Jamaica, N.Y.) to retake the lead at 29-26 with 19:04 left in the half.

But the Spartans went cold from the floor as DSU's defense clamped down. NSU went the next 11 minutes, 39 seconds of game time without scoring. The Hornets only managed 10 points in that span, five from Neal, but nonetheless took a 38-29 advantage. NSU missed eight straight shots and committed nine turnovers before Rob Hampton (Queens, N.Y.) finally put an end to the drought with a runner with 7:25 remaining.

The Spartans remained in the game with their defense, and got within two on three occasions. Deloach's first bucket of the half brought NSU within 41-39 with 3:12 left to play. But the Hornets scored the next six points to stretch the lead back to eight.

The Spartans were forced to foul and lengthen the game, but DSU obliged by missing five straight free throws at one point. A steal and layup by Antoine Perry (Norfolk, Va.) cut the DSU lead to 48-46, but Jay Threatt and Neal hit four straight free throws to make it 52-46. A Deloach layup preceded two more missed foul shots by Neal, and Deloach scored again to cut the deficit to 52-50 with 12 seconds left.

Threatt hit the first of his next two free throws, then missed the second. But the DSU point guard managed to get his own rebound in between four Spartans, then iced the game with one more free throw with eight seconds left.

Threatt had 13 points, six assists and four steals for the Hornets, who shot just 37 percent from the floor, 30 in the second half. Sandidge added 12 points.

Deloach led NSU with 18 points and three steals. O'Quinn had 12 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, his third consecutive double-double. Hampton added 11 points but shot just 3-of-10 for the Spartans, who shot 41 percent for the game but finished with 26 turnovers.

The Spartans hit the road for their next two games, beginning Saturday at Hampton. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. at the HU Convocation Center.