Nelson Jr. Scores 30 as Men’s Basketball Wins Third Straight

Sunday, December 11

Newark, Del.

2 p.m.

University of Delaware

6-4,0-0CAA

Siena

5-5,1-0MAAC

Siena

Delaware

Photo by: Mark Campbell

Nelson Jr. Scores 30 as Men’s Basketball Wins Third Straight

12/11/2022 4:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. – Delaware men's basketball (6-4) extended its win streak to three on Sunday afternoon, knocking off Siena (5-5), 75-64. Four Blue Hens registered double-digit point totals with Jameer Nelson Jr. dropping a game-high 30.

Siena started the game with a 9-3 advantage, holding the Blue Hens without a field goal for a 3:37 span up to the 16-minute mark. Delaware answered with its own 9-4 spurt for a 13-12 Siena lead. The Saints were held without a field goal for the last 4:35 of that timeframe. The Saints ripped off a 7-0 run over the next 1:33 to force a timeout by the home team.

The Blue Hens settled down with an 13-1 margin over a 3:40 span to pull ahead 29-24 with under three minutes to play. A defensive stand by UD allowing zero points and forcing five turnovers over 4:40 led to the offensive push.

Nelson Jr. closed the half by sinking both of his free throws, spelling a 33-28 lead for the Blue Hens heading into the locker room. Nelson Jr contributed 11, while Jyáre Davis and LJ Owens chipped in eight and seven points, respectively.

Delaware continued its scorching offense to start the second half with a 9-4 advantage, including a 6-0 run over 1:19 pushed the lead to 10. The UD defense forced four turnovers over the final 2:56 to aid in the efforts.

Siena would pull within four at one point in the second half but wouldn't overcome that deficit. Nelson Jr. exploded for 19 second-half points on 7-of-11 shooting, tying a career-high with 30 points, the second time he has reached the mark this season. An exclamation dunk put the Blue Hens up 73-61 with 51 seconds remaining.

Davis added 11 in the second half, going a near-perfect 4-for-5 to stretch his total to 19. Also contributing double digits were Owens (10) and Ebby Asamoah (10), the former of whom extended his streak to seven-consecutive games reaching that mark.

An Owens dunk sealed the deal for Delaware, who ended the homestand with its third consecutive win.

Overall, Delaware shot a sparkling 53.1 percent from the field, which is a season high, and an even better 56-percent in the second half. While the Hens were out-rebounded, they made Siena pay for its mistakes, scoring 19 points off turnovers.

Delaware will head to the road next week, traveling to Princeton for a Friday matchup against the Tigers at 7 p.m.