DAVIDSON, N.C. — There are a number of reasons to think Delaware will have a good men’s basketball team this winter.
The Blue Hens just didn’t necessarily prove it on Tuesday night.

Davidson used a 14-point run to break open a close game midway though the fist half before cruising to a 93-71 victory over the Blue Hens in their season opener.

Delaware, which is picked to win the CAA, led 18-16 before the Wildcats reeled off the next 14 points and never trailed again.

“It’s a great learning experience for us,” said UD coach Martin Ingelsby. “We’re disappointed we didn’t get it done. But we’ve got to be able to use this to help us moving forward.

“It only counts as one loss. That’s what I told them after the game. ... I want to come back and use this as a reference point — ‘Remember when we were down at Davidson, we did this.’”

Guard Foster Loyer, a transfer from Michigan State, poured in 27 points in his Davidson debut. He shot 6-for-6 from three-point range.

The Wildcats were 14-for-23 from beyond the arc.

The Hens got a good game from senior center Dylan Painter, who collected a team-high 17 points and six rebounds against a big Davidson front line. He sank 9-of-10 foul shots while playing 30 minutes.

“He was great,” Ingelsby said about Painter. “Davidson’s got a high-major front line. He held his own. They make you work. I don’t know if we’ll play a front line that big all season.

“He battled. You can’t say enough about what he’s trying to do with our team from a leadership standpoint and keeping guys together. Collectively, we have to be better.”

Kevin Anderson and George Washington transfer Jameer Nelson, Jr. both added 11 points. Anderson played only 26 minutes after picking up three first-half fouls.

Fourteen players saw game action for Delaware.

The Hens sank seven of their first 10 shots but ended up hitting only 23-of-57 for the game. They never got closer than 19 points in the second and trailed 79-47 in the final nine minutes.