Morgan State's Walter Peggs Jr. stole the show at Memorial Hall, scoring 29 points to propel his team to a narrow 80-79 win over Delaware State. The high-scoring affair saw both teams trade baskets throughout, with Morgan State's strong first-half performance ultimately proving to be the difference.
Delaware State's Ponce James did his best to keep his team in the game, pouring in 22 points, while Rahmir Moore added 20 points of his own. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of Morgan State, which saw Rob Lawson chip in 13 points and Elijah Davis contribute 8 points and 6 assists.
At halftime, Morgan State held a six-point lead, 44-38, after a back-and-forth first half. Delaware State pushed hard in the second half, outscoring Morgan State 41-36, but ultimately fell just short. The Hornets' late surge was fueled by James and Moore, who combined for 15 points in the final 10 minutes of play.
Despite the loss, Delaware State can take solace in the fact that they were able to hang with a similarly matched opponent in Morgan State. The two teams entered the game with similar net rankings, and the close score reflects the competitive nature of the contest.
For Morgan State, the win is a much-needed boost to their resume. As a Quadrant 4 win, it may not carry significant weight in terms of tournament implications, but it does demonstrate the team's ability to perform on the road against comparable opponents. With a current net ranking of 356, Morgan State still has work to do if they hope to make a push for postseason play.
The same can be said for Delaware State, which suffered a Quadrant 4 loss. While the defeat won't be crippling to their tournament chances, it does highlight the need for the Hornets to start stringing together wins if they hope to make a move up the rankings. Currently sitting at 361, Delaware State faces an uphill climb in their pursuit of a tournament berth.
In the end, Walter Peggs Jr.'s outstanding performance was the deciding factor, as Morgan State escaped Memorial Hall with a hard-fought 80-79 victory. As both teams look to build on this result, they'll need to draw on the positives from this exciting contest and use them as a springboard for future success. The win gives Morgan State a slight edge in terms of resume building, but both teams must continue to perform at a high level if they hope to achieve their postseason goals.