BALTIMORE — Delaware State University’s late comeback attempt came up short as the Hornets fell 20-14 at Morgan State on Thursday night in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest broadcast on ESPN2.

The Hornets trailed for the whole game but closed to within a touchdown on a Trey Gross 39-yard touchdown reception from Jared Lewis with 7:15 remaining.

Delaware State got the ball back after forcing a Morgan State punt with just under five minutes to go. The Hornets were able to drive down to the Morgan State red zone in the closing seconds.

The 14-play, 63-yard drive stalled out at the Morgan State 12-yard line, however. The Hornets ended up turning the ball over on downs with 33 seconds left as Lewis was under pressure and could not complete a pass to Kwannah Kollie.

Morgan State needed one kneel down to run out the time remaining on the clock. It was the first win of the season for the Bears (1-8) while Delaware State dropped to 4-5 overall.

Michael Chris-Ike provided the other touchdown for the Hornets on a one-yard rush with 2:52 left in the second quarter to close the Morgan State lead to 13-7.

The Bears scored a pair of touchdowns in the first half — both for more than 70 yards. The first was a Neil Boudreau pass,to Thomas Marcus for 72 yards on Morgan State’s first drive of the game. Alfonzo Graham added a 71-yard rushing touchdown on the next drive for a 13-0 Bear advantage following a missed extra point.

Romello Kimbrough rushed for a 21-yard rush for a Morgan State insurance touchdown in the third quarter.

Delaware State was out-gained 378-313 by the Bears but recorded 18 first downs to Morgan State’s 15. The Bears held a 210-116 edge in passing yards.

Chris-Ike provided the bulk of the offense for the Hornets with 70 yards on 16 carries while Lewis rushed for 51 yards on 13 carries. Sy’Veon Wilkerson added 25 yards on 14 rushing attempts.

Lewis finished 8-of-25 on his passing attempts for 116 yards and one touchdown. Gross was the top receiver for Delaware State with three catches for 55 yards while Jerrish Halsey recorded a pair of catches for 27 yards.