University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Army
Delaware Falls Just Short as Army Spoils Blue Hens' Home Opener With 73-69 Victory
12/3/2014 10:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
• Boxscore
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NEWARK, Del. -- The youthful University of Delaware men's basketball team posted its best offensive production of the season Wednesday night, but Army outscored the Hens 12-7 over the final three minutes and picked up a 73-69 non-conference win at the Bob Carpenter Center.
Delaware, the defending Colonial Athletic Association champion, was making its first home appearance of the season after a five-game road trip to open the campaign and held a 62-61 lead with 2:34 left to play before the Black Knights pulled ahead for the victory.
The Blue Hens (0-6) recorded season-highs for points and field goal shooting (46.9 percent), knocked down 5 of 8 three-pointers, and outrebounded Army by a 33-28 margin, but could not come up with its 
first victory of the season.
Army, picked No. 2 in the preseason Patriot League poll, improved to 6-1 and bounced back from its first loss of the season - a 93-73 setback to No. 4 Duke on Sunday.
Sophomore guard Cazmon Hayes (left) led three Blue Hens in double-digit scoring with 14 points while freshman point guard Kory Holden added 13 points and four assists, freshman forward Chivarsky Corbett (below right) contributed 11 points, and sophomore forward Maurice Jeffers recorded career-highs of nine points and eight rebounds.
The Hens, who entered the game ranked last among all NCAA Division I teams with a 29.7 field goal percentage, hit on 23 of 49 shots for the game.
“I thought our guys gave tremendous effort tonight, and I'm really proud of them,” said Blue Hen head coach Monté Ross. “There were a lot of positives out there - we're improving and getting better. We have to do a better job on the free throw line. We weren't able to extend the lead in the second half when we had a chance. I thought Cazmon (Hayes) did a great job on (Kyle) Wilson for most of the game, but he's an older guy who knows how to make plays when it counts."
Kyle Wilson, a junior guard and the pre-season Patriot League Player of the Year, made a huge difference as he netted a game-high 31 points, knocking down 7 of 11 shots from the field, 6 of 8 from 
beyond the three-point line, and 11 of 12 from the foul line. Kennedy Edwards came off the bench to score 13 points while Kevin Ferguson added 12 points and a game-high six rebounds for Army.
Delaware led for much of the first half before a late Army run gave the Black Knights a 35-28 advantage at the break. Army gained control at 45-42 with 13:23 left to play and held the lead until the Blue Hens used a 9-2 run to take a 56-53 advantage with 6:53 remaining.
Army tied the game moments later on a Mo Williams three-pointer, but the Hens answered with a layup by Eric Carter, a three-point play from Hayes, and a free throw by Devonne Pinkard to take their final lead at 62-61 with 2:34 left.
But it was all Army after that as Wilson scored eight straight points, including five free throws, as the Black Knights took control and never looked back.
Delaware will continue action this Sunday, Dec. 7, when the Hens host in-state foe Delaware State at 12 noon at the Bob Carpenter Center.
