DOVER, Del. – Brandon Stewart scored 26 points as Bethune-Cookman erased an 18-point deficit to down Delaware State 75-70 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon.
Stewart, a senior, hit three from three-point range in the second half as he scored 20 points in the final 20 minutes for the Wildcats, who won their fourth consecutive road game in MEAC play.
Ricky Johnson added 19 points and Denzel Dulin 11 for the Wildcats, who fell behind 34-16 in the first half. The Wildcats were 0-4 from three-point range in the first half, but made five of their first eight in the second.
A 12-0 Wildcat run helped Bethune-Cookman (8-16,4-5 MEAC) pull within 34-28 at halftime.
Stewart scored five points on a 9-2 Wildcat run that gave them their first lead at 37-36 with 18:18 remaining. Bethune-Cookman built its lead to 55-47 on a Johnson jumper with 10:31 left.
Delaware State (10-13, 4-4) regained the lead at 62-60 with 4:19 remaining on free throws from Tyshawn Bell and Kendall Gray.
Travis Elliott tied it with two free throws, then a Quintin Brewer basket with 3:25 left put Bethune-Cookman ahead 64-62. A Brewer three-point play after breaking the press gave B-CU a73-66 lead with 37 to play, then a Stewart free throw gave the Wildcats an eight-point cushion with 19 seconds left.
Amere May led the Hornets with 18 points, followed by Bell with 14 and Gray, who double-doubled with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Bethune-Cookman hosts defending conference champion North Carolina Central next Saturday.
HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG
“I'm proud of the guys. They've been working hard and it's good to see some results from that work.
“I told the guys before the game and in the huddle that this is a game of runs. When we were down, they key was to get it under 10 before halftime and we'll be fine. We got it to six.”
“[Delaware State] was backing off Brandon because he was driving. He was able to make a couple of threes contested.
“Dulin can get to the basket and guard. “We wanted to go with a smaller line-up and match up with them better.
“Ricky knows what decisions to make.'
[On being 4-1 on the road and 0-4 at home in league play] “We're trying to figure that out. When we're at home, we have to come with same attitude and aggressiveness we do on the road.”
BRANDON STEWART
“We were getting ball to the basket and playing defense. “That's a winning combination.”
“I was taking what they gave me. When guys sag off me, I can hit the three.”
“Down the stretch, we made our free throws and got to the rim. “We finished how we're supposed to.”
“I don't know what the deal is [about being 0-4 at home.] “I'll take the road wins, though.”
NOTES: The Wildcats surpassed last year's victory total with the win … This was their third straight win at Delaware State … Bethune-Cookman won just three road games in conference play the last two seasons … The Wildcats are 7-4 in day games these seasons … This was Stewart's third 20-point game of the season … Johnson has been in double figures six straight games... The Wildcats had a season-low eight turnovers...
