ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State controlled nearly the entire night and held off a late push to defeat Delaware State 70–64 in MEAC Men's basketball play on Monday (Jan. 26) inside Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

The Bulldogs (5–16, 3–2 MEAC) never trailed and led for 38 minutes, building a 13-point first-half cushion, and maintaining a multi-possession edge for most of the second half. SC State shot 47.8 percent from the field and knocked down 18 of 28 free throws, while its defense limited Delaware State to 35.1 percent shooting and 3 of 18 from 3-point range.

Owen Bronston Jr. led the Bulldogs with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including three 3-pointers. Jayden Johnson added 14 points, six rebounds and three assists, and James Morrow scored 14 off the bench while going 7 of 8 at the foul line. Florian Tenebay chipped in 10 points with three assists.

SC State led 32–25 at halftime and pushed its margin to 10 midway through the second half. Delaware State (5–15, 0–5) trimmed the deficit to 62–57 with 3:29 remaining, but the Bulldogs answered with free throws and a pair of late buckets to close it out.

The Hornets' Zion Bethea scored 13 points and Miles Webb added 11. Corey Perkins had eight points and five assists, and Rahmir Moore finished with eight points and five rebounds.

Delaware State won the bench points battle 20–15 and outrebounded SC State 31–27, but the Bulldogs converted 21 of 26 free throws and forced 15 turnovers, turning them into eight points in transition.

On the defensive side center Tim Okojie led the way with five (5) blocks and four (4) rebounds for the Bulldogs.

South Carolina State returns to action Saturday (Jan.31) in an exciting doubleheader versus North Carolina Central. In an update gametime has changed due to inclement weather. The women will tipoff at 11 a.m., followed by the men in a 1:30 p.m. start.

ABOUT SC STATE ATHLETICS 
South Carolina State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 14 sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, softball, men's and women's outdoor track and field, women's soccer and football with all teams competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), except for women's soccer. 
  
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