DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After shooting 11 percent in the first half, Bethune-Cookman dropped a 68-52 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference decision to Delaware State Saturday in historic Moore Gymnasium.

The Hornets, who got a career-high 24 from Marques Oliver, took a 33-17 halftime lead and never saw the lead get under double digits in the second half.

Bethune-Cookman (7-14 overall, 2-4 MEAC) got as close as 37-27 on Paul Scotland's 3-pointer with 16:56 left in the second half, but Delaware State answered using a 21-11 run to take a 58-38 lead, capped by Tyshawn Bell's layup with 6:27 remaining.

Delaware State's biggest lead was 64-41 on a Jabari Joyner three-pointer with 4:18 left.

The Wildcats' only lead was at 3-1 on a Marc Mack jumper with 16:36 left. Delaware State held the Wildcats scoreless for three minutes to turn a 13-10 advantage into a 26-10 lead.

Coleman and Paul Scotland each scored 13 points to lead B-CU, while Ricky Johnson had a season-high 11.

The Wildcats were 3-27 in the first half and 13-48 overall for a season-low 27.1 percent.

Bethune-Cookman hosts Maryland Eastern Shore Monday at 7:30 p.m.

HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG

““You're going to have nights when you don't shoot the ball well, but you have to defend. We didn't defend tonight.  You can't let a guy go [Oliver] go 9-10.”

“We'll try to make adjustments. It's all you can do at this point of the season.”

“We have to find a way to win and then string some wins together.”

NOTES: B-CU did make a season-high 21 free throws ... This was the second straight game B-CU was held to under 20 in the first half ... Scotland was in double-figures for the first time since the Fla. Christian game on Dec. 17 ... In addition to honoring Dukes for his 1,000 career points, the B-CU coaching staff was in sneakers as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer national campaign.