After a dramatic win over the Miami ( Ohio) Redhawks yesterday, Delaware Blue Hens could not take that momentum into Saturday’s game vs Northern Kentucky where they fell 74-53.
Delaware struggled early with shooting only posting 8 for 25 in first half and this would be a issue throughout the game for the Blue Hens.
Northern Kentucky on the other hand came out hot with a early 10-4 lead around the 15:33 minute mark in the first half and Forward Jeff Garrett led the charge for NKU with 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 point in the early run for NKU.
The Blue Hens then found a spark shortly after NKU’s run and went on a run of their own and manage to come back and end the half with a 21-20 lead. Hens Guards Cazmon Hayes and Anthony Mosley had an combined 13 points in the first half run. Hayes also had 3 rebounds and 3 blocks by the end of the first half.
The second half started just how the first half did with Northern Kentucky starting hot and going on a 11-1 run and led 34-22 with 16:12 to play. This time the run was led by Forward Carson Williams who had 4 points and 2 rebounds during the run.
Delaware was able to get within 4 points around the 15 minute mark in the 2nd half and was to keep the deficit to single digits until the 8:00 minute mark.
NKU put a stop to that when they hit eight straight shots to give them a 15 point lead at one point. NKU was led by the tough play of Drew McDonald and Jeff Garrett during the ending 2nd half run. North Kentucky ended the game with a 21 point lead that showed how sloppy of a game Delaware played.
Hens shot a dismal 30.2% Field Goal percentage for the game and only hit 18% of their three pointers in the game. Another thing the plagued the Hens were turnovers which they had 16 vs NKU.
Blue Hens Head coach was not happy with the play he saw from his players on Saturday night noting the sloppy play that plagued them throughout the game.
We weren’t ready to play at the start of the second half, and were sloppy on both ends of the court,” Blue Hen head coach Martin Ingelsby said. “We were very poor defensively to give up 54 points in the half. The first half wasn’t pretty, but we had the lead. We’ve just got to execute better, and that falls on me. We’ve got to bounce back and be ready to go tomorrow.”
Hens have a history of not doing well against Horizon League teams and now fall to 0-6 with Saturday’s Loss. This was the first ever meeting between Northern Kentucky and Delaware.
There was one interesting note in the game that the Blue Hens were out rebounded by NKU 48-37 which is the first time all season they have been out rebounded by an opponent.
Delaware falls to 3-2 and closes the Tarkett Sports Classic vs Austin Peay on Sunday at 12 pm ET.
DE SPORTS BLITZ PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
Blue Hens: Cazmon Hayes who had 13 points 8 rebounds ( 1 offensive, 7 Defensive), 2 assists, 3 blocks, and was 4 for 4 at the free throw line.
NKU: Drew McDonald who had 28 points, 13 rebounds ( 10 defensive, 3 offensive), 2 assists, and 10 for 12 at the free throw line.
Stats:
FG Percentage:
Blue Hens: 30.2 %
NKU: 40.7%
Free Throw Percentage:
Blue Hens:72 %
NKU: 64%
Three Point Percentage:
Blue Hens: 18.8 %
NKU: 29.6%
Rebounds:
Blue Hens:37
NKU: 48
Blocks:
Blue Hens:7
NKU: 3
Turnovers:
Blue Hens:16
NKU: 11
Points off Turnovers:
Blue Hens:15
NKU: 17
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