CHARLESTON, S.C. – Kory Holden’s heave from just across half court bounced off the back of the rim as the Delaware’s comeback attempt fell just short in a 59-58 Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball loss to the College of Charleston on Saturday afternoon.
Delaware (5-14, 0-8 CAA) trailed for the final 15 minutes but pulled within a point when Holden buried a three-pointer with five seconds to play. The Blue Hens then fouled Cougars forward Jarrell Brantley who missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Holden’s desperation shot was off the mark as UD dropped its 11th consecutive game.
The Hens’ 11-game skid is the program’s longest since 1979.
Marvin King-Davis
Charleston (12-7, 4-4 CAA) won its second straight contest and defeated the Hens for the first time in five tries since joining the Colonial Athletic Association.
Marvin King-Davis had another big afternoon for Delaware, as he recorded game-highs of 17 points and 14 rebounds while posting his 10th double-double of the season. Holden contributed 16 points, while Devonne Pinkard added nine points and Cazmon Hayes chipped in seven.
Delaware shot a respectable 46.8 percent from the field, including a 12 of 21 performance in the first half, but was undermined by an 11-of-19 effort from the foul line.
“We needed to get off to a good start and I was happy to do so, and we knew the second half was going to be a back-and-forth battle,” Delaware coach Monté Ross said. “Charleston made their free throws when they needed to and we didn’t, and that was the difference in the game. We’re getting better at playing zone (defense), and we will continue to get better.”
Delaware trailed 7-6 early on but then scored nine straight, including the final four points on a pair of tough jumpers by Pinkard, to go up 15-7 at the 12:23 mark. The Hens increased the margin to 29-18 with 4:13 remaining in the first half but the Cougars closed the period by scoring 11 of the final 13 points, while a three-pointer cut the UD advantage to 31-29 at the break.
The teams traded the lead early in the second half but Delaware then went scoreless for nearly five minutes, as the Cougars used a seven-point surge to go in front 43-37 with 11:31 to play. The margin remained between three and six points over the next nine minutes, before a three-pointer by Pinkard made it a 52-50 game with 2:14 remaining.
Anthony Mosley converted a three-point play to again bring UD within a pair with 44 seconds on the clock. Cameron Johnson hit two free throws before King-Davis scored inside, and following two foul shots by Brantley, Holden buried a triple with five seconds left to close the scoring.
Delaware returns home to the Carpenter Center on Thursday to host William & Mary at 7 p.m.
FREE THROWS
Delaware dropped its seventh straight on the road. … Holden reached double figures for the sixth consecutive game. … King-Davis now has exactly 700 points for his career. … Delaware’s 57.1 shooting percentage in the opening period was its highest percentage in a half this season.