NORFOLK, Va. -- Jeffrey Short scored 25 points and D'Shon Taylor added 19 as Norfolk State rallied in the second half for an 81-71 victory over Delaware State on Monday.

Short and Taylor both had eight points in the first half when Norfolk State trailed by as many as 14 points.

Norfolk State (18-11, 11-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) sits alone in second place in the conference standings. North Carolina Central, unbeaten in conference play, has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the MEAC tournament.

RaShid Gaston added 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Amere May led Delaware State (13-15, 7-6) with 26 points. He scored 20 first-half points, on 8-of-12 shooting, to lead the Hornets to a 35-30 lead at the break.

Norfolk State opened the second half on a 17-2 run, largely with points in the paint, as Delaware State made just one of its first 13 shots.