Two Hornet Games ended with Thilling Finishes on Presidents Day

Can you believe it two hornets games that end with thrilling finishes on the same night in the same gym? For hornets fans that went to the game you saw 85 minutes of fun and excitement. For hornet fans that were at work or taking late class mid-terms you probably miss the most fun home game of the season.

If President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were Hornet fans they will be in for a real treat on the greatest day in sports: Presidents Day.

We begin with ladies first as the lady hornets (looking good in their pink uniforms to promote breast cancer) were taking on North Carolina A&T, who entered the game undefeated in the MEAC at 11-0. It was a great battle as the top two teams of the conference meet in round two at the final home game of the season Memorial Hall.

During the first half the lady hornets were ready to meet the challenge even though A&T took control at halftime by rebound the ball and taking great shots thanks good ball movement. The lady hornets were hanging tough even though they miss some easy shots and turned the ball over seven times.

Early in the second half the lady dug themselves in a hole trailing 45-29 with under 15 minutes left to play. After the time out, the lady hornets didn't panic as they slowly evaporate the lady aggie lead from double digits to single digits with two great runs of 12-3 and 9-1. The crowd was loud and crazy like I was as the lady hornets made big shots, key defensive stops, and making free throws count as they took their first lead since the opening minutes of the first half.

Both teams traded baskets for until final two minutes decide the ball game:

• Amber Bland of North Carolina A&T scored a three point shot to regain the lead.
• Selena Galloway and Jameka Smith helped give the lady hornets the lead by scoring a combine four points (Galloway's lay-up and Smith's two free-throws).
• With the crowd rocking even louder Amber Bland quiet the crowd a little with a three point to make it a one-possession with eight seconds remaining.
• After Galloway's free throw, the lady hornets made a defensive stop by preventing Bland to make a game winning shot.

The crowd erupted when the buzzer sound as the lady hornets made a statement to North Carolina A&T and the rest of the MEAC Conference that the DSU should be the number one seed in the MEAC Tournament coming up in March handing the lady aggies their first lost of the conference season by winning 68-66. Currently they are the most underrated team in the conference.
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On the men's side, the hornets were in a packed bottom as they tried to moved up in the conference standings against A&T. In the first half, the Hornets defense were not ready for Aggies three point shooting as they were playing catchup most of the first while trailing by seven points at halftime. The only highlight for the Hornets when Fred Bouie jump high in the air and block Marc Hill's layup into the seats. That got Memorial Hall hyped up.

In the second half, both teams put on a shooting clinic for the Hornet faithful as DSU shot 63% while A&T shot 58%. Both teams were trading basket after basket until Arturo DuBois (22 points, 10 rebounds) forced the Aggies to turned the ball over with 47 seconds left. This play sets up a hornet possession for Marcus Neal (11 points, four assists) with a left handed running hook shot that tied the game at 64. With 25 seconds left the hornets made a very nice defensive stand by not allowing A&T to make the buzzer beater shot.

During overtime both teams continued their shooting clinic until the hornets final possesion where options could have been made:

1. Give the ball to Trevor Whelchor and drive the basket forced A&T to foul and shoot game winning free throws.
2. Put Fred Bouie back in the ball game and hit the game winning shot.
3. Give the ball to Donald Johnson and shot a three pointer to win the game.
4. Give the ball to Dubois or Frisco Sandige who dominated the paint all night.

Instead they give the ball to Marcus Neal to hit the same shot again but this time the ball didn't work together with Neal as the ball went begging off the rim and the Aggies went to avenge the lost from Martin Luther King Day 74-73.

The Hornets have their offensive swagger back but the defense need to step a little bit more as they need build momentum for the MEAC tournament starting February 21 in the first of the final four road games against the same team that rallied and beat DSU, Bethune-Cookman. The reason is simple: clearly the Hornets will be playing in the first round conference tournament in March.

The Lady Hornets Fave 5 Wrap Up

The Lady Hornets posted four wins with their only loss coming at the hands of Hampton in overtime back on February 7 on the road. For those who need catching up due to busy schedules here is the Lady Hornets Fave Games so far:

Monday January 26-Balanced scoring and solid defense was the name of game as the Lady Hornets win easily 62-31 over Florida A&M at home. The win for DSU was their ninth straight win over FAMU.

The lady hornets used their reserves to start the game in the opening minutes of the first half and have their starters play off the bench. A very wise coaching move for Ed Davis.

Even though both teams struggled in the first half the lady hornets were outstanding in the second half as they finish the game with a 29-2 run.

Sonia Johnson led the DSU with 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.
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Saturday January 31-Two unsung heroes led the lady hornets to a win and a Coppin State monkey off their back.

With the lady hornets down 49-46, Alexis Abraham tied the game with a wide open three point shot that explode a Memorial Hall crowd into a frenzy with 0.8 seconds left.

During the overtime period, both teams combine for five points (DSU-3, Coppin State-2) but the win they need the most is when Morgan Rowland came into the game with the game tied at 51 with 7.6 seconds left. She drove the ball towards the basket and drew the foul against Coppin State's Danielle Anders.

Rowland miss the first free throw as the crowd anxiously await the second free attempted and just like that swoosh (as what Hornet fans would say) as the lady hornets rallied and escape with a victory 52-51. The last time the hornets defeated the Eagles was 2005 when Rocky Collier was a freshman playing for the Lady Hornets.
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Monday February 2-Sonia Johnson scored 20 points to help the lady hornets finished undefeated during their four game homestand with a 60-50 win over Morgan State.

Johnson is already in the running for MEAC Rookie of the Year as she lead all MEAC freshman by averaging 10.5 points per game.

After playing with the flu against Coppin State (15 points making five three pointers), Johnson was rejuvenated and ready to roll to let every MEAC team that she and the lady hornets are making a serious impact come March during the conference tournament.
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Saturday February 7-Lady Hornets once again rallied for the second straight Saturday this time it was Keyhana Wakefield that almost help DSU win the game. But this time the lady hornets ran out of gas in a 68-64 defeat at the hands of Hampton University in the first of their final six road games of the season.

Wakefield (15 points) scored the final six points in the final minute of regulation to helped the Lady hornets rally. But in the over time period, DSU missed nine of their 10 shot including 0-6 from three point territory.
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Monday February 9-It wasn't a lot of offense but there was plenty of defense as the Lady Hornet forced home team Howard to commit 26 turnovers and shooting a dismantle 24 percent shooting in a low scoring 45-32 victory.

It was a milestone night for Keyhana Wakefield who surpasses the 500 point career mark with 11 points, four assists, and six steals.

It was second lowest scoring the lady hornets allowed a opponent this season.

Hornets/Michigan in the 2009 Football Schedule

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Okay hornet fans you are probably wondering, "Has Delaware State lost it's mind?" or Laughing, snickering,"We are going to get embarrassed by 30, 40 or even 50 points!!!"

Well if you are Hornets football coach Al Lavan, he has reasons why the Hornets will play the Michigan Wolverines on October 17 in the Big House.

Remember in the past several years Former DSU President Allan Sessoms requested the Hornets to moved up to Division I-A and play teams such as Notre Dame?

Lavan told The News Journal easily the biggest game in history of Delaware State and have that opportunity to play in front of huge crowd is something special. Yes he was right about that over the years the Hornets had played a history of non-conference games from Division I-A and Division I-AA (a/k/a Mid-Major Colleges).

He also quoted about turning those rocks over and finding a nugget and helping an integral role in helping to put that revenue game together. That is also true because Athletic Director Bill Martin for Michigan University were running out of time in completing their schedule for the 2009 football season. So Martin talked to multiple schools and made a agreement with Delaware State.

Also Lavan is no stranger to Michigan. In fact he used to be an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan for two seasons and became an interim head coach during the 2003 season.

As the coach said it best in the dsuhornets.com website that every hornet football player that takes the field in the Big House will learn lot about their potential and their game focus. The reason due to the increase of a Division I-A level of competition they will be facing.

I will mark my calenders for October 17 as DSU takes on Rich Rodriguez and Michigan in The Big House. I can't forget about the Homecoming Game as a DSUAlumni.