NORFOLK, Va. -- Todd Hughes scored 19 points, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the closing minutes, and Tyshawn Bell added 18 to help No. 5 seed Delaware State beat Howard 65-60 in the quarterfinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament on Thursday night.

Amere May had 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals for Delaware State (17-16), which will play top-seeded North Carolina Central a semifinal game on Friday.

No. 4 seed Howard (16-16) led 54-51 with three minutes remaining before Hughes, who made 3 of 4 from behind the arc, hit back-to-back 3s to give Delaware State a three-point lead with 1:54 to play.

May scored six points as the Hornets made 6 of 6 free throws from there to seal it.

James Daniel made 5 of 9 3-pointers and scored 25 points, and Damon Collins had 10 points and nine rebounds for Howard.

Delaware State was without starting point guard Kendal Williams due to an ankle injury suffered in the team's win over Savannah State on Monday.