NORFOLK, Va. – Taking part in a postseason recreation in entrance of a house crowd at Echols Corridor, the Norfolk State males’s basketball workforce delivered an 81-66 victory over Alabama A&M on Saturday.
The Spartans (23-11, 11-3 MEAC) used a powerful second half to beat an early lead from the Bulldogs (12-23, 9-9 SWAC) within the semifinals of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Match (CIT). Norfolk State advances to the match’s championship recreation for the primary time in program historical past, the situation and date of the title recreation to be decided.
Dubbed the “John McLendon Traditional”, the sport honors the legendary late head coach. The primary African American coach to win an built-in nationwide championship, McLendon received three consecutive NAIA titles from 1957-59.
Scoring 15 factors on a career-high 5 3-pointers within the second half, Daryl Anderson was named the John McLendon Traditional Most Useful Participant. 5 Spartans scored in double figures on Saturday: Anderson, Allen Betrand (16 factors), Jack Doumbia (13), Christian Ings (11), and Chris Fields Jr. (11).
Alabama A&M obtained 15 factors every from Lorenzo Downey and London Riley, in addition to a 14-point efficiency by Chad Moodie.
Neither workforce might discover any type of offensive rhythm to begin the afternoon. It took practically two and a half minutes for the sport’s first factors, the tiebreaking rating approaching Tyrel Bladen’s two-handed dunk.
A trio of 3-pointers in a brief span helped the Bulldogs soar out to a fast 13-6 benefit. A number of inside scores from scores by Eric Lee pushed the hole to eight factors halfway via the primary half.
The Spartans started to seek out some success late within the half, beginning with a mid-range jumper by George Beale Jr. A dunk from Fields moments later received the group concerned, earlier than Gilbert Brown Jr. hit a formidable stepback 3-pointer.
A pair of layups from Betrand pulled the Spartans inside two, till Ings reduce the deficit to 1 with a triple close to the highest of the important thing. A Bulldog 3-pointer from Riley received the Bulldogs some respiration room once more, as Alabama A&M took a 31-28 lead into halftime.
Anderson made his first jumper from behind the arc on the 18:32 mark of the second interval, the start line of a capturing efficiency for the ages. After Fields tied the sport on the free throw line, Anderson gave Norfolk State its first lead because the recreation’s first three minutes with one other triple.
Riley related from deep twice to place Alabama A&M again in entrance, however Betrand tied issues up with one other inside rating. Ings pushed the Spartans forward with a thunderous dunk on the quick break, ending a pleasant cross from Jaylani Darden.
The Spartans continued to pile on constructive momentum, as Doumbia and Betrand contributed dunks off Ings’ dimes. Again-to-back 3-pointers from Anderson gave Norfolk State a 61-53 lead with six minutes to play.
The hole went to double-digits as NSU started to get to the rim at will. Betrand knocked down a triple within the closing minutes, earlier than Anderson’s fifth 3-pointer supplied the ultimate blow.
Checking The Field Rating
Allen Betrand led the Spartans with 16 factors, including three rebounds and two assists
Daryl Anderson scored all 15 of his factors within the second half, pulling down a career-high 5 3-pointers
5 Spartans scored in double figures: Betrand (16 factors), Anderson (15), Jack Doumbia (13), Christian Ings (11), and Chris Fields Jr. (11)
Norfolk State outscored Alabama A&M 53-35 within the second half
The Spartans shot 22-of-54 (40.7 p.c) from the ground, 8-of-19 (42.1 p.c) from behind the arc, and 14-of-17 (82.4 p.c) on the free throw line
Saturday’s recreation featured 4 ties and eight lead modifications
Information & Notes
Norfolk State improved to 23-11 with the win
The matchup marked the primary postseason recreation at Echols Corridor in Norfolk State’s Division I historical past
Daryl Anderson was named the John McLendon Traditional Most Useful Participant, pulling down a career-high 5 3-pointers within the second half
Alabama A&M dropped to 12-23 with the loss
Norfolk State now leads the all-time sequence between the colleges 4-1
Norfolk State improved 5-0 this season and 34-1 in head coach Robert Jones‘ tenure when 5 Spartans rating in double figures
UP NEXT
With the win, Norfolk State advances to the championship recreation of the School Insider Postseason Match (CIT). The situation and date of the sport is to be decided
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