DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A slow second-half start allowed Delaware State to pull away and defeat Bethune-Cookman 79-67 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats (6-22 overall, 4-9 MEAC) missed seven of their first nine shots after halftime, and Delaware State, already ahead 35-31, capitalized. The Hornets (7-17,3-8) opened up a 53-36 advantage on a Kendal Williams three-pointer with 13:43 left.

Bethune-Cookman got it down to six points twice, at 55-49 on a Malik Jackson jumper with 9:22 remaining and 60-54 on a Jackson fastbreak lay-up with 6:41 left, but the Hornets scored the next seven points and maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

Tyshawn Bell double-doubled with 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead four Hornets in double figures. Delaware State shot 61 percent overall and 55 percent from three-point range.

Jackson led the Wildcats with 19 points. Freshman Tony Kynard matched his season-high of 15, and Maurice Taylor and Mikel Trapp each scored 11.

B-CU led 27-21 with 5:21 remaining in the first half on two Kynard free throws, and managed a 29-27 lead on two Taylor free throws with 3:57 left, but the Hornets closed the half with an 8-2 run.

The Wildcats host Florida A&M next Saturday in the Ocean Center at 4 p.m. It's the final home game of the season as well as Senior Day for Jackson, the lone senior.