NORFOLK, Va. (Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletics) – The Norfolk State men’s basketball team won the program’s fourth MEAC Basketball Tournament title on Saturday afternoon in thrilling fashion, rallying back from an 11-point deficit to defeat South Carolina State 66-65 at Norfolk Scope Arena.
Christian Ings led the Spartans with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Brian Moore Jr. tallied 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Moore was named the MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player while head coach Robert Jones earned Most Outstanding Coach honors.
Both teams started sloppily at the offensive end of the floor. The teams combined for four turnovers in the first two minutes of play, going scoreless until the 18:07 mark.
Ings bullied his way to the basket for the Spartans’ first points of the afternoon, but an and-one layup and a 3-pointer pushed South Carolina State ahead 6-2.
The Spartans got back in the mix with a pair of dunks from Kuluel Mading, both delivered by passes from Jaylani Darden. Darden converted at the rim soon after to give Norfolk State a 12-10 advantage.
Sin’Cere McMahon stepped into a 3-pointer in stride midway through the first period, but it would be the only successful 3-point attempt for the Spartans in the half. The Bulldogs continued to sink shots from deep, though, including back-to-back triples by Wilson Dubinsky to go ahead 25-21.
South Carolina State controlled the momentum in the first half, producing a 9-0 run in the final minutes. Moore knocked down a jumper to stop the burst, but the Spartans went to the break trailing 35-24.
Just like on Friday, the Spartans came back out energetic but composed. Moore got to the cup for an and-one layup on the first possession of the second half starting the comeback efforts.
Norfolk State opened the second period on a 12-2 run, pulling within one point of the Bulldogs. Colin McKenzie drained a 3-pointer to give SCSU some breathing room, but Moore and Jalen Myers kept the pressure going with a pair of layups through contact.
Ings tied the game 47-47 with a corner 3-pointer, but South Carolina State responded with a score at the other end. The Spartans went on a 6-0 run from there, though, forcing the Bulldogs to call timeout with the Norfolk crowd going ecstatic.
Another clutch 3-pointer from Ings put the Spartans ahead 58-51 with five minutes remaining. The Spartans earned a double-digit advantage for the first time on a pair of Myers free throws, but South Carolina State wouldn’t go away yet.
A pair of Bulldog 3-pointers kept the game tight, before a steal and score pulled South Carolina State within three in the final minute. Trailing by soon after, the Bulldogs came up with a steal on the inbounds and scored in the paint to tie the game 65-65 with 10 seconds remaining.
Ings pushed the ball down the floor, drawing a reach-in-foul to get to the free throw line in a double bonus situation. He made one of two free throws, before the Spartans got the defensive stop of the year at the other end as the final buzzer sounded.
Checking The Box Score
- Christian Ings led the Spartans with 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists
- Brian Moore Jr. added 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals
- South Carolina State led 34-25 at halftime
- The Spartans outscored South Carolina State 30-20 in the paint
- Norfolk State shot 41.7 percent from the floor, holding SCSU to a 37.1 percent clip
- Saturday’s game featured seven ties and five lead changes
News & Notes
- Norfolk State won its fourth MEAC Men’s Basketball Tournament title, securing the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in the process
- Brian Moore Jr. earned the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award
- Christian Ings joined Moore on the MEAC All-Tournament Team
- Head coach Robert Jones was named MEAC Tournament most outstanding coach for the third time in his career
- Norfolk State improved to 24-10 on the season
- South Carolina State dropped to 20-13 with the loss
- Norfolk State now leads the all-time series with South Carolina State 35-19
- The Spartans clinched the season series after splitting a pair of regular season matchups with the Bulldogs
UP NEXT
Norfolk State clinched the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with the victory. The Spartans will find out their seed and destination on Sunday during the CBS Selection Show at 6 p.m.
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