GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T introduced a new player into the lineup in the effort to continue to find the formula to get the Aggies back to playing the type of basketball they were playing when November ended and December began.
Freshman Martin Jones helped the Aggies come close to ending their lengthy winning streak but Delaware State was able to pull out a 55-53 win in men's basketball action at Memorial Hall on Monday night. The Aggies (5-16, 2-5 MEAC) have lost eight straight overall and 14 straight on the road. It was Delaware State's first win over a Division opponent this season as they improved to 2-17 overall and 1-4 in the MEAC.
Jones, a preferred 6-foot-1 walk-on freshman out of Cincinnati, Ohio, came off the bench to score 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting. Redshirt sophomore Sam Hunt finished with 19 points. For the second straight game, junior Denzel Keyes had double-figure rebounds as he followed up his 13-rebound performance against Norfolk State with a career-high 17 rebounds against the Hornets. Keyes has eight offensive rebounds in each of his last two games.
“I'm disappointed that we didn't come through tonight against Delaware State,” said N.C. A&T head coach Cy Alexander. “We just have to keep grounded and find a way to get this first 'W' in 2016. It's very, very unbelievably frustrating.”
In what had to be a surprise to Alexander, the Aggies found themselves trailing 41-19 four minutes into the second half. The Aggies were still down 17, 50-33, with just under eight minutes remaining in the game. N.C. A&T then began to slowly chop into the Hornets lead. A 3-pointer by senior Arturs Bremers, his first made field goal since Dec. 21, cut the lead to 14. Keyes followed with a layup assisted by Bremers. Bremers then completed his barrage on the Hornets with another 3-pointer to get the lead down to 50-41 with 5:26 to play.
A 3-point play by DSU's DeVaughn Mallory ended the Aggies run and put the Hornets ahead by double figures again with 5:03 remaining. N.C. A&T waited another minute before making another run as Hunt, who was 13-for-14 from the line on Monday, hit four consecutive free throws to bring the Aggies to within six, 55-49 with 2:38 remaining.
Mallory hit one of two free throws before junior Khary Doby's layup and Keyes' 3-point play cut the lead to 56-54 with 2:04 on the clock. Jones had a chance to give the Aggies the lead after a Hunt steal but had the ball bounce off. Keyes grabbed the offensive board but had the ball stolen by DeAndre Haywood with 34 seconds remaining.
Devin Morgan hit one of two free throws to keep to leave it a one possession ballgame at 57-54. But Doby's attempt to tie the game with a three misfired and Keyes' follow up also missed. Dana Raysor, however, missed the front end of a one-and-one and Todd Hughes eventually fouled Hunt. Hunt made the first and intentionally missed the second as the ball went out of bounds off the Hornets. The game ended, however, on a turnover.
“Martin Jones came off the bench and shot well, Denzel Keyes rebounded well again and Arturs Bremers made a couple of shots which means hopefully he's out of his year-long slump,” said Alexander. “We're going to do our very best to be ready by Wednesday. We'll get back at it tonight and practice Tuesday.”
The Aggies makeup game against Coppin State will take place Wednesday night at 7:30 in Baltimore. The game was originally to be played Saturday afternoon, but an east coast snowstorm postponed the action.
