By Andy Walter

DOVER — For just a moment, Stan Waterman thought he could see light at the end of the tunnel.

Trailing Coppin State by four in the final minute on Wednesday, Delaware State was hoping to get a three-pointer from Dominik Fragala.

But not only did Fragala hit the three, he was also fouled on the shot. So when he sank the free throw, the Hornets were tied with the Eagles with just 27 seconds left.

“At that moment I thought it could be the breakthrough,” said Waterman, DSU’s first-year men’s basketball coach. “Just the little boost of momentum that you kind of need to get things going.”

Unfortunately for the Hornets, the moment didn’t last.

Coppin’s Nendah Tarke hit a jumper in the lane just before the final buzzer as Coppin handed DelState a crushing 59-57 loss in Memorial Hall.

The setback leaves the Hornets 0-5 in the MEAC, 2-15 overall. They host Howard on Monday at 7:30 p.m. still looking for their first win of the season over an NCAA Division I opponent.

There are signs that DelState is getting better, though.

Including a 64-62 loss to South Carolina State two games ago, two of the Hornets’ last three losses have come on the contest’s final possession.

“We’re getting a little healthier now,” said Waterman. “We’re getting more bodies back. We’re settling into a little bit of a rotation. I think the chemistry is beginning to come together. ... We’re seeing signs of growth.

“As a staff, we’ve been commenting how hard they continue to work,” he said about his players. “They come in every day, continue to work. Their attitude’s been good.”

Unlike last season, when DelState was ineligible for the MEAC tournament due to NCAA academic standards, the Hornets will take part in this year’s tourney.

That means, no matter what DSU’s record, there’s always something to play for.

“I don’t know what that must have felt like for them last year,” said Waterman. “To be playing and knowing they weren’t playing for much.
“I think just having that carrot dangling out in front of you is something to play for and keeps them going.”

DSU allows some fans

DelState announced that it will begin permitting 600 fans for home basketball games as the school starts to ease some of its COVID restrictions.

That number includes up to 300 DSU students, 150 season ticket holders and special guests, and 150 for the general public.

There will be no walk-up sales of general public tickets. All will be sold online at: https://dsuhornetstickets.com

All spectators will be required to show proof of a negative COVID PCR test result administered within three days of the games they plan to attend. Also, all spectators will be required to wear masks at all times.

Fans can also watch games online by logging onto the Delaware State University YouTube channel (DESU-TV).

CR’s Ivy earns honors

Caesar Rodney High grad Quintin Ivy is earning some attention ahead of his senior baseball season at Wilmington University.

The outfielder was named to the second team NCBWA Preseason All-American squad as well as first-team All-East Region. He is one of only two East region players to make All-American.

Last spring, Ivy was an honorable mention All-American after hitting .398 with 36 RBI and 29 runs scored in 88 at-bats. He had eight homeruns and 14 stolen bases.

Who’s next for Hens?

With new schools joining the Colonial Athletic Association next fall, Delaware’s 2022 football schedule is up in the air right now.

First-year Blue Hens’ coach Ryan Carty, though, says he’s got plenty of other things to get done before he starts worrying about facing new football members Hampton and/or Monmouth.

On the other hand, Carty says he is very curious to see how the CAA splits the now 13-team league into divisions and sets up the schedule.

“I would love to know more,” Carty said this week. “Being a CAA football fan — shoot, I’ve spent so much time in this conference ... I’m intrigued to see how this goes. Do we stay in pods? Are we going North and South? I like that stuff as a football nerd.

“What I know right now is, we’ve got to be good at us. We’ve got to go compete against becoming the best version of the Delaware football Blue Hens that we can be. Because it doesn’t matter who we’re playing if we’re not going to be great.”

Notes

Former Smyrna High running back Leddie Brown, who ran for 2,888 yards and 27 TDs in his career at West Virginia, has been invited to the NFL Combine in March. “Blessed to be one step closer to achieving my lifelong goal of playing in the NFL,” he posted. ... Ron Rainey, who was Delaware’s head men’s basketball coach from 1976-85, passed away on Dec. 23 in South Carolina. He was 85. In 1957, Rainey was a starting outfielder on the Penn State baseball team that finished second in the College World Series. ... Delaware State’s Victoria Croston was named the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Flat Rider of the Month. She posted a 3-0 record in January, highlighted by a Most Outstanding Performer award in a victory over SMU.

Follow Andy Walter on Twitter at @DSNSports.