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January 17, 2002 Late rally not enough to overcome Quakers lead.
PHILADELPHIA -- On the heels of a cold-shooting night at Virginia Commonwealth, Delaware didn't fare much better with a change of scenery. Despite a late rally, Delaware fell to Penn, 50-44, in a non-conference men's basketball game Thursday night. Playing at the historic Palestra, Delaware (7-9) didn't do anything to make the hallowed halls shine. The Fightin' Blue Hens made just four of their first 31 shots from the field. For a long time, it looked like it would be the first time Delaware had failed to score 40 points in a game since, ironically, a 58-39 loss to Penn on the same floor. It was Delaware's lowest output since being held to 41 points in a loss at Princeton on Jan. 3, 1990. "We're not the most athletic team," said Delaware coach David Henderson,whose team was playing its fifth straight road game and 12th in 16 games this season. "We play tough defense and that could be burning ourselves out for the other end of the floor." Both teams struggled early -- the Quakers (11-4) with their shooting and the Fightin' Blue Hens taking care of the basketball. Delaware committed nine turnovers in the first 11 minutes, but found itself down by just two, 11-9. However, a three-pointer by Tim Begley with seven minutes left in the half keyed a 7-0 Penn run to give the Quakers a nine-point advantage, 18-9. When Delaware stopped turning the ball over, the shots wouldn't fall. The Blue Hens failed to score 20 points in a half for the first time since Nov. 27, 1999, and just the second time in the last seven seasons. When the intermission finally came, Delaware had shot 4-for-24 from the field, committed 10 turnovers, and yet found itself down by just eight points, 21-13, because Penn had shot just 8-for-20. The Blue Hens, who lost for the 23rd time in 24 visits to The Palestra and fell to 0-8 against Penn at their storied building, misssed their first seven shots of the second half, and Penn took advantage. The Quakers stretched their lead to 14 points, 27-13. Mark Curry's conventional three-point play with 13:52 left broke the drought. But it looked like it would be too little, too late. The Blue Hens ran off six straight points with five minutes left, however, to start to make things interesting. A pair of Austen Rowland buckets and a put back by Sean Knitter pulled Delaware back to within 38-27. A conventional three-point play by Koko Archibong looked like it would end the Delaware threat. However, six points on three consecutive possessions by Robin Wentt pulled Delaware to within eight with three minutes to play. A Knitter lay-up and a three-pointer from the left wing with 57 seconds remaining made it 47-41. After a pair of misses at the free throw line by Penn, Delaware pulled to within four on a Ryan Iversen lay-up. Penn's Jeff Schiffner then knocked down one of two at the line before Penn called a timeout. Off the inbounds, Iversen drove the length of the floor and drew a foul with 21 seconds left. He knocked down the first, but missed the second. When Delaware could not come up with the loose ball on the rebound, its hopes of a comeback were dashed. Knitter finished as the only Blue Hen in double-figures with 11 points. Wentt finished with six points and a team-high eight rebounds. Penn was led by Ugonna Onyekwe's 15 points, six rebounds, and four blocked shots. The Blue Hens return to action Saturday night when they host Drexel in a CAA contest at 7:30 p.m. AGATE Official Basketball Box Score
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