By Andy Walter

NEWARK — It wasn’t exactly an offensive showcase for Delaware.

But after back-to-back losses, the Blue Hens will take their 57-52 victory over Elon in CAA men’s basketball on Saturday afternoon at the Carepenter Center.

Delaware evened its league record at 1-1 while improving to 9-6 overall with its sixth victory in the last nine games.

Jameer Nelson Jr. led the Hens with 15 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. Christian Ray added 14 points while Jyare Davis (12) and L.J. Owens (10). also scored in double figures.

With the Phoenix (0-2 CAA, 2-13 overall) leading by four early in the second half, Delaware used an 11-0 run to pull ahead 45-38 at the Elon break.

Points were difficult to come by late in the second half. Elon pulled as close as two points, but clutch free throws by Ray in the waning seconds put the Hens up for good.

Elon started the game with seven-unanswered points before the Hens quickly responded with a 15-0 run. Four different Hens contributed to the run.

Delaware went into halftime with a 31-26 advantage.

Delaware shot 38.9 percent from the field in what was a tough shooting day for both sides as Elon countered with a 34-percent mark. Neither team shot better than 30-percent from beyond the arc.

Delaware hits the road for its first CAA away game with a nationally-televised game at Charleston next Saturday.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at walter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter at @DSNSports.