Men’s Basketball Uses Second-Half Surge to Down NC A&T, 73-71

Thursday, February 23

Greensboro, NC

7 p.m.

University of Delaware

15-15,7-10CAA

North Carolina A&T

12-18,7-10CAA

Delaware

N.C. A&T

Photo by: Gavin Bethell

Men’s Basketball Uses Second-Half Surge to Down NC A&T, 73-71

2/23/2023 10:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Delaware (15-15, 7-10 CAA) used a double-digit second-half surge to down NC A&T (12-18, 7-10 CAA) Thursday evening, 73-71. Jameer Nelson Jr. became just the second Blue Hen since at least 1990 to post back-to-back 30-point outings after he dropped 30 against the Aggies.

Delaware held a narrow 6-5 lead at the first media break with 15:27 on the clock. The Hens held the Aggies scoreless for the last 2:13 up to that point. After a 6-0 spurt by the home team deep into the first half, Delaware ripped a 10-0 run over a 2:46 span for a 25-19 lead with just under seven minutes to play. The home team would end the half with an 18-3 margin over the final 6:41 to pull ahead 37-28.

Nelson Jr. led the Blue Hens with nine points over 19 minutes in the first half. Delaware shot just 35-percent in the first frame, going 1-for-10 over the final 10 shots.

NC A&T hit six triples in the first period, doubling that of UD. The Aggies held a slight advantage in field-goal percentage at 37-percent.

Delaware regained the lead 54-53 with a 12-2 run up to the 10-minute mark. Neither team would lead by more than four the rest of the way. Nelson Jr. took control of the second half with 21 points, highlighted by a Sportscenter-caliber slam.

Delaware notched 45 second-half points, shooting 45-percent overall and 42-percent from long range in that stanza. The half also included an impressive 12-of-13 from the stripe to help close out the game.

Nelson Jr. finished 10-of-19 overall and 8-of-9 at the line. He corralled seven rebounds and snagged a pair of steals.

In his return from a wrist injury, LJ Owens tallied 11 points with three triples. Christian Ray was the next top scorer for UD with eight points and a game-best 10 rebounds.

Nelson Jr. joins Davon Usher as the only Blue Hens since 1990 to register back-to-back 30-point performances when he dropped 42 and 34 in February of 2014.

Delaware stays on the road to conclude the regular season Saturday night at Elon.