Men's Basketball MEAC Media Relations

Deloach, Spartans Snap Skid with 76-54 Win over Lethbridge

 

BOZEMAN, Mont. ? Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.) scored a game-high 19 points to lead four Norfolk State players in double figures, and the Spartans used a big second-half performance to break their school-record 10-game losing streak and top Lethbridge 76-54 on Monday night in the consolation game of the Bobcat 6th Man Club GranTree Inn Classic at Montana State’s Worthington Arena.

Forward Brandon Monroe (Raeford, N.C.) notched his first career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Spartans (2-10), who last won on Nov. 16 at Longwood in their season-opener. Aleek Pauline (Jamaica, N.Y.) also scored 13 points, his season high, and Corey Lyons (Bronx, N.Y.) contributed 12 points and nine rebounds.

Neither team led by more than five points in a tightly-contested first half which ended in a 30-all tie. The NAIA Pronghorns (4-7) took a 30-25 edge on a 3-pointer by Shawn Nelson, but NSU scored the final five points of the first half, capped by a Lyons free throw, to force the game’s sixth tie going into the break.

NSU then opened the second half by scoring the first 12 points. Lyons and Joseph Dorsett-Jeffreys (Bronx, N.Y.) each scored five points in the run, which gave the Spartans a 42-30 lead. Nelson then scored four straight for Lethbridge, but the Spartans went on another 12-0 spurt to all but put the game away. Pauline scored the final seven points in that run, which put NSU ahead 54-34 with 12:57 left in the game.

NSU shot just 42 percent for the game, but 51 in the second half. The Spartans held Lethbridge to 35 percent accuracy for the game, the lowest figure for an NSU opponent this season. The Spartans scored 28 points off 24 Pronghorn turnovers and enjoyed a 52-33 rebounding edge, which led to 23 second-chance points.

The Spartans also recorded a season-high 14 steals, with Monroe and Pauline each snatching a career-high four. Pauline also finished with seven rebounds and five assists, while Deloach also grabbed seven boards.

Rob Cooper led Lethbridge with 18 points and Nelson added 10.

The Spartans are now off for the next 12 days before resuming MEAC play at Coppin State on Jan. 10.