NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Reggie Baker, Brandon Tabb and Diamante Lewis combined for 10 3-pointers and 11 of 12 free throws down the stretch as Bethune-Cookman shot its way past Delaware State 69-62 in the opening round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament on Tuesday.
The ninth-seeded Wildcats (10-21) will play No. 1-seeded North Carolina Central (22-8) in a quarterfinal on Wednesday. Tabb led with 21 points, three 3-pointers and was 8 of 8 at the foul line. Baker added 20 points with four 3s and was 6 for 6 at the line, and Lewis scored 19 on 3 treys and was 4 of 5 at the line.
Bethune-Cookman drained six 3-pointers out of nine total field goals in the first half but trailed by three at the break. Tabb opened the second half with a trey, Baker added two more and Bethune-Cookman took off on a 14-3 run, eventually leading by 12.
Delaware State rallied and tied at 50-50 on a Kobe Gantz 3 from the corner, but was hampered by cold shooting (34 percent). DeVaughn Mallory led Delaware State with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Tabb and Baker were each 4 of 4 at the line down the stretch. Tabb's 105 3s are a Bethune-Cookman single-season record.
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