By Andy Walter

On the night it unfurled its newsest NCAA Tournament banner, the Delaware men’s basketball team also unveiled its new roster on Monday night.

Sophomore standout Jayre Davis, for one, picked up where he left off by netting a game-high 20 points as the Blue Hens opened their season with a 78-54 win over Division II Wilmington University at the Carpenter Center.

Senior guard Jameer Nelson was right behind him with 18 points as defending CAA champion Delaware cruised to the win.

Among the newcomers, UMBC transfer L.J. Owens had 11 points, La Salle transfer Christian Ray collected six points and 14 rebounds while freshman guard Cavan Reilly netted nine points.

As a team, the Hens blocked 12 shots to tie the school record.

“We didn’t execute as well as we needed to tonight,” said coach Martin Ingelsby. “But we’re still searching for rotations, trying different lineups. But obviously it’s always good to be 1-0.”

Justin Thomas netted 16 points to lead Wilmington with Cape Henlopen High grad Randy Rickards had a team-high 10 rebounds.

WOMEN, Delaware 82, Longwood 62: Jewel Smalls netted 23 points as the Blue Hens won in their debut under new coach Sarah Jenkins.

Klarke Sconiers added 16 points, Makayla Pippin had 14 and Nakiyah Mays-Prince scored 13 for Delaware.

Michigan State 86, Delaware State 37: Freshman guard Deyonce Thompson hit a pair of three-pointers to net a team-high six points in the Hornets season-opening loss on Monday.

Delaware State completes its trip to the state on Wednesday when they play at No. 25 Michigan at 6 p.m. The Hornets have lost 29 games in a row.

College volleyball

Two Hornets honored: Delaware State senior libero Jasmal Cruz and junior middle blocker Alondra Maldonado took weekly Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference honors.

Cruz earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a game-high 29 digs in the Hornets’ 3-2 win over Coppin State.

Maldonado was named Player of the Week for the third time this season after she racked up 21 kills and four assisted blocks.

Boys’ soccer

Indian River 4, Cape Henlopen 1: Jordan Illian netted the Indians’ first and last goals as South champion IR won the Henlopen Conference championship on Saturday at Milford.

Connor Bird and Shane Carroll also scored for the Indians, who led 3-0 in the 47th minute.

Angel Arano Rebolledo scored for the North champion Vikings.

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