The Snowstorm Game 2005: Delaware State vs Hampton

Over the weekend, the state of Delaware and almost entire east coast were covered with the biggest snow storm ever in decades.

While I was admiring the snow falling all over the place near my apartment something occur to me. When was the last time a Delaware State sporting event was ever played during a snowstorm?

Just like that I had a good memory. Lets go back to my freshman year January 22, 2005 when Delaware State was playing the Hampton Pirates in a basketball double header at Memorial Hall.

While it was cold and snowy was all day into heading into nighttime hours, inside the Memorial Gym was so packed and warm as students and fans braved the weather just to watch the best basketball game to begin their second semester.

On the ladies side, the Lady Hornets gave the lady pirates all they can handle. However, Hampton prevail at the end with 52-50 victory. That was when the DSU Die Hards were pre-rowdy for the men's game.

On the men's side, everyone knows that this will a very intense rivalry game and over 1,700 rowdy Hornet fans were on the edge of their seat the entire game as the Hornets took a 31-24 lead at halftime.

The second half was flat out crazy. Hampton started the second half on a 15-0 run as the Pirates took a 57-55 lead with little time left in regulation.

Hampton thought they were going to win the game by shooting 63% from the field but the Hornets Aaron Williams made a game-tying layup to force overtime with two seconds left. The gym went completely crazing with that shot.

In overtime, the Hornets and Pirates were struggling in a fight for survival but the Hornets made a fantastic finish. With the game tied at 64 DSU's Aaron Fleetwood miss the shot and then Terrance Hunter miss the shot as well until Sophomore Jahsha Bluntt made a 10 foot put back shot that set the Memorial Hall into a frenzy as the Hornets win overtime 66-64.

Bluntt told the Hornet Newspaper that shooters keep shooting you know? He said it best that he had a shooter's mentality and he was confident in his shot.

The Hornet fans partied in the gym for a while before playing in the snow for most of the night.

It was the best snow storm game ever to hit Delaware State University. I was glad I was there to witnessed that game and of course that shot was similar to the one when the Hornets beat that same team to win the 2005 MEAC Championship to play Duke two months later in the NCAA Tournament.

Like I said before snow bring good memories espcially in the Hornets Nest.

Lady Hornets Bowling MEAC North Division Champions

It's only the month of December and the Lady Hornets Bowling team have already clinch the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference North Division Title for the second straight year.

Now that was a quick accomplishment seeing as the Lady Hornets has eight bowling matches left in the regular season before the defending the MEAC Championship in March.

The Hornets captured the North crown after posting a perfect 10-0 record in division competition in Baltimore, Md., over the weekend. DSU was 5-0 in regular team games on December 5 and completed the sweep with a 5-0 mark in Baker matches on December 6.

In regular team play, the Hornets upended Hampton, Howard, Coppin State, Morgan State, and UMES (994-958).

Since DSU won the Northern Division crown that means that they earn the No. 1 seed in the 2010 MEAC Tournament.

Delaware State is currently 46-10 overall and 29-1 in the MEAC North this season.

Oh yeah did you know that the Lady Hornets are ranked number three in the nation in Bowling. Vanderbilt better watch out because if the Lady Hornets bowling team continue their winning ways they could be the #1 team in the nation.

Delaware State Shows University of Delaware Who Owns This State

For those who was at the Route 1 Rivalry game between DSU and UD December 1, we had a very early Christmas present. For those who miss it or heard it on the radio, this was the instate basketball game for the ages inside the Hornets Nest we called Memorial Hall.

During the Hornets 75-67 win over the Blue Hens, some questions came to my mind before tip-off:

1. How will will the Hornets fare against a Blue Hen basketball that hasn't played each other since 2000?

2. How many Hornets/Blue Hen fans will show up?

3. Which team will have gain momentum towards the rest of the season?

I have three answers to three questions.

My first answer is that the Hornets were ready for the challenge even though they trailed at halftime 25-23. Second half, different story, the Hornets were on fire shooting 58% from the field, 57% from 3-point land and going to the free throw line 37 times, making 28. The Hornets outscored the Blue Hens 52-42 in the second half.

Also the Hornets defense step up in a huge way with their swarming defense forcing the Blue Hen offense to make 20 turnovers which turned into 22 Hornets points to go along with 13 steals.

The Blue Hens defense was no match for Frisco Sandidge who scored a career high 26 points and Marcus Neal had 16 points to go along with his four three pointers. Plus
Most of the second half was a DSU free throw marathon as the Blue Hens were depressed to rally but they ran out of time by continuing to foul Hornet players left and right. Think out this Frisco went to the free throw line 16 times, Alibada Odd 10 times, Jay Threatt six times, while the rest of the Hornets roster went to the line a combine eight times. Wow we thought this game would never end. The Hornets made 20 of their 24 free throws in the final 2:56 of the second half.

My second answer over 1,300 fans packed up the Memorial Hall gym full of Hornets fans and only like 10 blue hen fans showed up. The Hornet fans was loud and rockin' the whole game. It almost became a war of words between Hornet fans and UD fans.

Speaking of war it was almost became one when UD player Jawan Carter fouled Jay Threatt with 20 seconds left with the game. Jay didn't like the foul that Carter commit but cooler heads prevail with both Carter and Alphonso Dawson received technical fouls as Hornets fans continued to chant and trash talk UD out the building.

Yep the First State Rivalry has been renewed not only in football but in basketball as well.

My third and final answer is that the Hornets has gain a huge momentum heading towards their December road trip starting with their conference game with University of Maryland Eastern-Shore this Saturday. Who knows the Hornets could have a good season ahead but its too early to tell at this point. If they keep their intensity, they could have a good season.

Next year will be Delaware State vs University of Delaware at the Bob Carpenter Center.

For now the Hornets will enjoy this win as DSU proved to UD that Delaware State University is now the Hornets State.