By Andy Walter

DOVER — Delaware State’s men’s basketball team didn’t end the regular season the way it wanted to.

But at least the Hornets had one shining moment down the stretch.

On March 2, DelState knocked off the MEAC’s top team, Norfolk State, by an 85-71 margin. It also ended the Hornets’ 16-game losing streak against the Spartans.

And, if nothing else, it left DSU’s players feeling like they’re capable of beating anybody in this week’s MEAC Tournament.

“I talked about that from the beginning of the year,” said Hornets’ coach Stan Waterman. “There’s not a lot of difference in the top and the bottom in our league.

“If we’re playing well and we’re executing and we’re not beating ourselves, then we’ve got a chance.”

For the moment, the only team DelState has to worry about beating is South Carolina State.

The sixth-seeded Hornets (6-8 MEAC, 13-17 overall) are slated to face No. 3 South Carolina State (9-5 MEAC, 14-17 overall) in the MEAC Tournament quarterfinals today at 8 p.m.

The MEAC tourney is being played at The Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.
The DSU women (4-10 MEAC, 8-19 overall), also seeded sixth, will take on No. 3 North Carolina Central today at 2 p.m. in Norfolk.

The Hornet men got the week off to a good start by having three players honored on the All-MEAC teams.

Jevin Muniz of Delaware State was a second-team All-MEAC pick. SPECIAL TO THE DAILY STATE NEWS/GARY EMEIGH

Senior Martaz Robinson was named to the first team, sophomore Jevin Muniz was named to the second team while freshman Deywilk Tavarez was named the MEAC Rookie of the Year.

Robinson scored in double figures in 25 of 30 games this winter. Robinson (16.2 points per game), Muniz (15.0) and Tavarez (13.1 ppg, 104 assists) are DSU’s top three scorers.

Also a third-team All-MEAC pick, Tavarez was named the league’s Rookie of the Week five times.

The Hornets are trying to win a MEAC tournament game for the first time since 2020. Their 13 victories are the most doe the program since 2015.

Waterman said he looks at some of the upsets that have already taken place in conference tourneys and figures, ‘Why can’t that be us?’

“I feel we’re good enough,” he said. “If we can string together two or three really good days and get our confidence going, we have that same opportunity.

“We want to be in the moment and do the best that we can right now with this opportunity that we’re faced with. I’m excited about it. ... I like the matchup. I feel like, if we play well, we have a chance.”

DelState lost twice to South Carolina State during the regular season but only by a total margin of nine points.

In the transfer-portal world, there are no guarantees from one season to the next. But, with a relatively young roster, Waterman likes where the program is right now in his third season.

“I’m really pleased,” said Waterman. “I enjoyed the guys that we had this year and the team that we put together. They’re getting along well and they’re working hard. You can see the improvement.

“You can see the growth in their confidence and maturity. And I think their confidence is rising because their competence has risen.”

Unified game at DSU

Special Olympics DC and Special Olympics Delaware athletes will join together with college students in the first Howard vs. Delaware State Special Olympics Unified Sports Rivalry Basketball Game on Friday.

The contest starts at 6 p.m. at DSU’s Memorial Hall. The game is free and open to the public.

The students from both universities are members of their respective SO College programs. SO College is a Special Olympics North America initiative that connects college students and individuals with intellectual disabilities through sport to build friendships and help lead the social justice movement of Special Olympics.

Notes

•DelState women’s basketball player Ja’Naiah Perkins Jackson was named third-team All-MEAC. She is averaging a team-best 18 points for the Hornets.

•Former Dover High basketball standout Eden Davis has entered the transfer portal after three seasons at Division II Young Harris. He began his career at Division I Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

•Davis’ former teammate, Elijah Allen, made first-team All-PSAC after averaging 17.6 points per game at West Chester.

•Smyrna native Kevin Keister, a senior infielder at Maryland, is the Terrapins’ captain this season.

•Dover grad Superia Clark, a sophomore defender for the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team, netted her first college goal in a win over Duke.

•Another former Senator lacrosse player, Kyleigh Dill, got to play a game in her hometown in Eastern Michigan’s 18-6 win over Delaware State.

•Delaware center Ande’a Cherisier made the CAA All-Rookie team in women’s basketball.

•Former Caesar Rodney High basketball player Kylie Kornegay-Lucas, a senior at Towson, was named to the All-CAA first team for the second year in a row. She is averaging 12.6 points and 3.4 assists per game.

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