news-record.com

GREENSBORO -- N.C. A&T lost its first home basketball game of the season Monday night, and it was a distasteful defeat to say the least.

Delaware State (4-15, 1-3 MEAC) entered the game 0-13 on the road, while the Aggies were 5-0 at the Corbett Center. But poor shooting, too many turnovers and a lackluster defensive effort by the Aggies helped Delaware State pull away for a 78-64 win.

The surprising result matched the bizarre beginning to the evening. The game's original 8 p.m. start time was pushed back when MEAC officials did not arrive at the arena as scheduled.

Tip-off finally came at 9:21 p.m. with two referees on the court, and the third official joined the game with a little more than 14 minutes left in the first half.

A&T coach Jerry Eaves said the officials' late arrival had nothing to do with the outcome, but his Aggies' 36 percent shooting and lack of physical play certainly did.

"Things are just out of kilter right now," Eaves said. "We can't get a tip-in to go in, and in the second half we missed six consecutive free throws. You just can't do that. We're having a hard time getting the ball to go into the basket."

A&T shot 50.8 percent against Tennessee Wesleyan on Jan. 5, but has hit only 35.9 percent in its last four games.

Delaware State had no problem getting to the basket (56 percent shooting), and its matchup zone defense baited the Aggies into hoisting -- and missing -- 3-point shots (5-for-19).

Smith alumnus Tavaris Alston led A&T (7-11, 2-3 MEAC) with 17 points. Ed Jones (14) and Dudley graduate Robert Johnson (12) also reached double figures.

Delaware State's Fred Bouie led all scorers with 22 points, and teammate Frisco Sandidge added 21 and five blocks.

As poorly as the Aggies played, they still found themselves within striking distance several times in the final six minutes.

Dwane Joshua hit a 3 with 5:21 remaining to pull A&T to 61-55, but Delaware State took advantage of poor transition defense to score four quick points and jump back up 65-55.

The Hornets did not pull away until the final two minutes, when the Aggies failed to take advantage at the free-throw line. Alston missed a pair of free throws with 2:27 remaining, and Thomas Coleman repeated the act on the following possession.

Shooting woes stood out the most, but Eaves stressed the need to improve on the boards as well. Delaware State held a 37-33 advantage on the glass overall, but A&T had only 12 defensive rebounds and had little to show for its 21 boards on the offensive end.

"We have 21 offensive rebounds and don't have 80 points?" Eaves asked rhetorically. "We have to play more physical around the basket and go up stronger."

In the first half, Delaware State ran to a 23-14 lead as A&T went 4-for-19 from the field. But 14 turnovers hampered the Hornets and allowed the Aggies to stay within reach.

A&T came back with a 12-2 run to go up 26-25, but Delaware State scored the final six points of the half to take a 35-31 lead.