City of Basketball Love

Mitchell Northam (@primetimeMitch)
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DOVER, Del. – The University of Pennsylvania Quakers are 3-0 to start a season for the first time since 1981 after a 60-54 road win over the Delaware State Hornets.

At First…
The Hornets jumped out to quick 8-2 lead to start. Hornets’ freshman guard Devin Morgan Jr. scored seven points in the game’s first seven minutes and DeAndre Haywood came off the bench to add six points for the team. But a stolen inbounds pass by Jackson Donahue with about seven minutes left in the half sparked an 8-2 run for the Quakers. The half ended all tied up at 26 points between the two sides after a three-pointer from Todd Hughes.

Turning Point…
The Quakers came out in the second half working like a well-oiled machine. They were connecting on open shots, crashing the defensive boards and scored nine straight points to start the half. The Hornets scored just five points in the first eight minutes of the half as Penn took a 39-31 lead with 11:48 remaining.

The Hornets would claw back and tie the games up around the seven minute mark after a three-pointer from Dana Raysor, but the Quakers’ had another run left in them. In the final two minutes, the Quakers scored five consecutive points before the Hornets responded, but by that time it was too late.

Shining Stars…
Darien Henry-Nelson led the way for the Quakers with 16 points and five rebounds. Sam Jones chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds for the Quakers and DeAndre Haywood, who came off the bench, led the Hornets in scoring with 13 points and five rebounds.

Noteworthy Numbers…
The Quakers, a team who was shooting 35 percent from behind the arc coming into this game, made just 2-of-15 attempted 3-pointers in the first half. It didn’t pick up much in the second half either, as the Quakers finished just 3-of-23 (13.0 percent) from 3-point range.

The Hornets got to the line a bit more this game than in their first game against the Delaware Blue Hens, but through two games have attempted just 11 free throws.

Up Next…
Penn (3-0) at Washington (2-0) – Nov. 21, 12:00 p.m.
Delaware State (0-2) at Nebraska (1-0) – Nov. 19, 8:00 p.m.