Game Statistics          VIDEO: Postgame Interview with LeVelle Moton and Landon Clement

DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – North Carolina Central University out-scored Delaware State University in the second half, but a 15-point halftime deficit proved too much to overcome as the visiting Hornets left McDougald-McLendon Gym with a 68-59 victory on Saturday evening.

NCCU (5-8) held a 6-4 lead when Landon Clement nailed a jumper at 15:56, but the Hornets scored the next 13 points, including three straight triples by rookie guard Desi Washington to open the run.

Clement drained a three-pointer to trim the deficit to eight points (11-19, 9:04), but Delaware State pushed the margin to as much as 17 points and took a 36-21 cushion into the locker room.

NCCU struggled to find the mark in the first half, shooting just 9-of-26 (34.6%) from the field and 1-of-6 (16.7%) from the free-throw line.

Delaware State (5-8), on the other hand, connected on 12-of-25 (48.0%) from the floor, including 4-of-7 (57.1%) from three-point range, and 8-of-10 (80.0%) from the charity stripe in the opening 20 minutes of play.

The Hornets also made the most of NCCU’s 10 first-half miscues with a 19-4 advantage in points off of turnovers.

In the second half, NCCU pulled to within seven points on two occasions, but each time the Hornets knocked down three-pointers to go back up by double figures.

Washington scored a game-high 22 points for Delaware State, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-7 from behind the arc, and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line. Two other Hornets tallied double figures in the scoring column, as Casey Walker had 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Marques Oliver added 13 points, six boards and four blocked shots.

Clement finished with 18 points to lead the Eagles, connecting on 7-of-10 shots, including 4-of-5 from long distance. Senior guard #C.J. Wilkerson# recorded 13 points, while sophomore forward Marvin Fitzgerald came off the bench to post season-highs of 10 points and seven rebounds.

Saturday marked the first time former NCCU head coach Greg Jackson sat on the visiting bench. Jackson, now in his 11th season as head coach at Delaware State, coached the Eagles to 164 victories, including an NCAA regional title in 1993, while on the sidelines from 1991-2000. During that time, he coached current NCCU head coach LeVelle Moton from 1992-96.

NCCU returns home on Monday, Jan. 10 to face the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at 7:30 p.m. inside McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.