University of Delaware Athletics

Photo by: Tyler Gallo
Nelson Jr. Has Career Game, but Stifling Penn Offense Too Much for Men’s Basketball
11/27/2022 7:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – Despite a career performance from Jameer Nelson Jr., Delaware men's basketball (3-3) fell in the final game of the Cathedral Classic on Sunday to the hosting Penn Quakers (5-4), 86-73.
Nelson Jr. tied his career best with 30 points on a 10-of-21 afternoon, including 5-of-12 from deep. He added five assists to his line along with a block. Nelson Jr. would go on to be named to the Cathedral Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, partnered with a .489 field goal percentage.
Penn connected on an impressive 56.9% from the field and 47.6% from long range, making it difficult for the Blue Hens to keep up. Delaware shot a usually favorable 42.2% overall, including 30.0% from deep with a season-best nine triples.
The Blue & Gold won the rebounding battle 34-32, including a large 14-6 margin on the offensive glass. Turnovers were even at nine apiece, however, Penn capitalized with 15 points off compared to Delaware's nine.
In a back-and-forth affair to start the game, the Blue Hens held an 11-9 advantage at the first media timeout at 15:37 thanks in part to three-straight field goals for UD. Penn responded with an 8-0 run over a 1:05 span, which forced a Blue Hens' timeout down 17-11 with 13:06 left. The Hens responded with 11 of the next 17 points to close the gap to one at 23-22 with 7:53 remaining. Penn tallied a 19-17 advantage up to the buzzer for a 42-39 lead at the half.
Nelson Jr. led all scorers with 20 first-half points, including a season-best three long balls. Christian Ray corralled 12 rebounds in the initial frame, four shy of his career mark.
Penn scored five-straight points to begin the second half for its largest lead of the game at that point, up eight. Delaware responded with a 12-5 advantage over the next 4:15 to make it a 52-51 game at the under-16 media timeout. The Blue Hens would go ahead by as many as five before a 14-1 Penn run put the home team on top 68-60 with 7:54 left. The Blue Hens wouldn't pull within more than eight the rest of the way.
Jyáre Davis had a quiet 18 points in the shadows of Nelson Jr.'s monster performance at a clip of 50.0%, with LJ Owens being the third Blue Hen in double figures with 12.
Ray continued his torrid rebounding efforts, matching his season high with 15 boards. The Gap, Pa. native added six points and three assists to round out his stat line.
Delaware returns to the Bob Carpenter Center after five-straight games on the road for a Thursday night matchup with Cornell.
Nelson Jr. tied his career best with 30 points on a 10-of-21 afternoon, including 5-of-12 from deep. He added five assists to his line along with a block. Nelson Jr. would go on to be named to the Cathedral Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, partnered with a .489 field goal percentage.
Penn connected on an impressive 56.9% from the field and 47.6% from long range, making it difficult for the Blue Hens to keep up. Delaware shot a usually favorable 42.2% overall, including 30.0% from deep with a season-best nine triples.
The Blue & Gold won the rebounding battle 34-32, including a large 14-6 margin on the offensive glass. Turnovers were even at nine apiece, however, Penn capitalized with 15 points off compared to Delaware's nine.
In a back-and-forth affair to start the game, the Blue Hens held an 11-9 advantage at the first media timeout at 15:37 thanks in part to three-straight field goals for UD. Penn responded with an 8-0 run over a 1:05 span, which forced a Blue Hens' timeout down 17-11 with 13:06 left. The Hens responded with 11 of the next 17 points to close the gap to one at 23-22 with 7:53 remaining. Penn tallied a 19-17 advantage up to the buzzer for a 42-39 lead at the half.
Nelson Jr. led all scorers with 20 first-half points, including a season-best three long balls. Christian Ray corralled 12 rebounds in the initial frame, four shy of his career mark.
Penn scored five-straight points to begin the second half for its largest lead of the game at that point, up eight. Delaware responded with a 12-5 advantage over the next 4:15 to make it a 52-51 game at the under-16 media timeout. The Blue Hens would go ahead by as many as five before a 14-1 Penn run put the home team on top 68-60 with 7:54 left. The Blue Hens wouldn't pull within more than eight the rest of the way.
Jyáre Davis had a quiet 18 points in the shadows of Nelson Jr.'s monster performance at a clip of 50.0%, with LJ Owens being the third Blue Hen in double figures with 12.
Ray continued his torrid rebounding efforts, matching his season high with 15 boards. The Gap, Pa. native added six points and three assists to round out his stat line.
Delaware returns to the Bob Carpenter Center after five-straight games on the road for a Thursday night matchup with Cornell.
Team Stats
UD
Penn
FG%
.422
.569
3FG%
.300
.476
FT%
.667
.833
RB
34
32
TO
9
9
STL
1
5
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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