Four Score in Double Figures as Spartans Win 4th in a Row, Top Morgan State
BALTIMORE, Md. - Kyle O'Quinn scored a game-high 24 points to lead four Spartans in double figures, and Norfolk State extended its winning streak to four games with a 76-74 win over two-time defending MEAC champion Morgan State on Saturday at Hill Field House.
Rob Hampton added 19 points, Pendarvis Williams had 15 and Aleek Pauline 11 for NSU (6-13, 4-3 MEAC), which broke a four-game losing streak against the Bears (9-9, 5-2) and improved to 3-0 in ESPNU televised games this year.
Morgan State scored the first four points of the second half as Kevin Thompson scored inside and DeWayne Jackson hit two free throws to give MSU a 31-29 edge. But NSU went on a 14-5 run to take a 43-36 lead. Hampton had six points in the run and capped it with two free throws with 13:44 remaining.
The Bears not able to get closer than three until Aric Brooks' two free throws with 0.2 seconds left provided the final margin. NSU was able to inbound the ball and kill the clock. The Spartans kept the Bears at bay by shooting 68 percent from the floor (15-of-22) and 77 from the line (17-of-22) in the second half.
For the game, the Spartans shot 80 percent from the foul line (20-of-25) and 54 percent from the floor (26-of-48). O'Quinn was 7-of-10 from the floor, 9-of-9 from the charity stripe, and made his only 3-point attempt. He also led the Spartans with eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Pauline was 4-of-5 from the floor and had a team-high five assists. Williams was 6-of-9 from the floor, finishing one point shy of his career high.
Jackson had 19 points to lead Morgan State. Brooks had 16, Thompson 13 and Larry Bastfield 10.
For the complete story, visit www.morganstatebears.com or www.nsuspartans.com
Riley, Collins Combine To Help Howard Defeat UMES and Snap Nine-Game Slide
Washington, DC-January 29--Kyle Riley scored 14 of his season-high 22 points in the second half and Dadrian Collins added 11 of his 18 after intermission to lead Howard to a 77-73 win over Maryland Eastern Shore in a MEAC game at Burr Gymnasium.
The win snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Bison (3-17 overall, 1-7 in the MEAC), who notched their first conference win of the season.
The two teams played nip and tuck in the first 20 minutes, using different styles. The Hawks (4-16 overall, 1-6 in the MEAC) got most of their scoring from the sizzling outside shooting of Hillary Haley (13) and reserve Mark Robertson (11) who combined for 24 of their team's points on a perfect 5-for 5 from three-point range.
Howard countered with one of its more balanced attacks of the season, as Riley (8 points), Mike Phillips (8 points), Collins (7 points) and Anton Dickerson (5 points) teamed to help the Bison take a 34-31 lead to the locker room.
With freshman center Alphonso Leary establishing himself inside and Collins and Riley chipping in with key baskets, the Bison were able to flex its way to its biggest lead of the game at seven points twice during the second half.
But Haley put his team on his shoulders and UMES rallied to tie the game at 73-all with 21 seconds remaining on a long three pointer by Roberston and layup by Kevin White.
Riley, the only senior on the young Bison squad, took the inbounds pass on the ensuing possession and made a strong drive to the basket to give Howard a 75-73 advantage with 14 ticks on the clock.
The Hawks quickly pushed the ball up the court and had two attempts to tie the game, but Leary came up with a big block on the second attempt that fell into the hands of Dickerson, who scored on an uncontested layup as the clock expired.
Haley led all scorers with 29 while Robertson tallied 17 off the bench.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.howard-bison.com
Pirates Upend Delaware State In Overtime
HAMPTON, Va. -Hampton needed an extra five minutes to beat Delaware State on Saturday evening, taking a 70-66 overtime victory at the HU Convocation Center.
The Pirates (16-5, 6-2 MEAC) outscored the Hornets 13-9 in the overtime period. Sophomore forward Wesley Dunning scored the team's first six overtime points, and junior guard Christopher Tolson hit all four of his free throws down the stretch.
Senior guard Brandon Tunnell sank a layup with 1:52 left in regulation to put Hampton up 56-50, but the Hornets (8-11, 4-3 MEAC) took a 57-56 lead with 41 seconds left on a Desi Washington 3-pointer.
Darrion Pellum sank one of two free throws with 15 seconds left to force overtime.
Pellum led the Pirates with 28 points on 10-for-19 shooting, making six of his 10 3-pointers; he also led the team with a career-high 13 rebounds. Tunnell and senior forward Charles Funches each had eight points, with Funches adding 10 rebounds.
Tunnell dished out nine assists.
Hampton shot 41.3 percent (26-for-63) from the floor, while dominating the boards - outrebounding Delaware State 46-29. The Pirates also had a 30-14 advantage in the paint.
Delaware State shot 40.0 percent (24-for-60) from the floor, making 11 of its 28 3-pointers. Casey Walker led the Hornets with 25 points, while Marques Oliver added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Washington added 12 points.
For the complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com or www.dsuhornets.com
Bulldogs Drop Heartbreaker To Wildcats 61-60
ORANGEBURG, SC-South Carolina State dropped their sixth-straight confernce contest in an heartbreaking 61-60 defeat to Bethune-Cookman at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center Saturday.
The SC State and visiting coaches wore suits and snickers to support the American Cancer Association and National Association of Basketball Coaches national collaboration to raise awareness about cancer and prevention.
The Bulldogs were led in scoring by sophomore guard Khalif Toombs with 14 points, while junior guard Brandon Riley chipped in 12 in the loss. Bethune-Cookman was led by junior guard CJ Reed with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Stanley Elliott added 11 in the victory.
Kevin Dukes hit a 3-pointer to put Bethune-Cookman ahead four, 48-52 with 6:33 left in the game. SC State's Brandon Riley nailed a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 60-59 lead with 0:49 seconds. CJ Reed tossed in a pair of free-throws with 0:24 seconds left to lead Bethune-Cookman to a 61-60 victory over SC State.
For the complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com or www.bcuathletics.com
Eagles Win Fifth Straight MEAC Game
BALTIMORE -- Michael Harper and Tony Gallo each scored 18 points and Coppin State shot 50.0 percent from the floor on its way to extending its winning streak to four straight with an 88-70 MEAC victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday in the Physical Education Complex.
Coppin State (10-9, 5-2 MEAC) held the Aggies to just 38.6 percent shooting for the game. The CSU defensive effort was led by junior Antonio Williams who collected a career-high 18 rebounds, including 11 on the defensive end of the floor. The 18 rebounds tied for the ninth most in Coppin State history and marked the most since Larry Stewart grabbed 18 rebounds for the Eagles against Toledo on Dec. 29, 1990.
North Carolina A&T (9-12, 4-3 MEAC) trailed by 56-36 with 13:44 to play in the game before mounting a comeback.
NC A&T cut the lead to 63-55 on a basket by R.J. Buck, but the Eagles then reeled off a quick 5-0 run to take a 68-55 lead with 6:09 to play.
North Carolina A&T was led by Thomas Coleman who scored a game-high 21 points.
For the complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.ncataggies.com
Florida A&M Misses Last-Second Layup As NCCU Escapes With 61-59 Win
DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) - Florida A&M missed a last-second, putback layup that would have forced overtime as North Carolina Central withstood a second-half rally by the visiting Rattlers and held on for a 61-59 victory inside McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium on Saturday.
NCCU (10-9) led by as much as 15 points early in the second half, but the Rattlers steadily chipped away at the deficit and narrowed the gap to just two points at 57-55 with 3:09 left to play.
NCCU junior guard Landon Clement pushed the margin to four points (58-55) with a 15-foot jumper at the 1:39 mark, but FAMU junior forward made 1-of-2 free throws to make it a one possession contest at 59-56 with 1:12 remaining.
With 43 seconds on the clock, NCCU senior guard C.J. Wilkerson nailed a pair of free throws to increase the Eagles' lead to a comfortable five points at 61-56.
Just nine seconds later, however, FAMU rookie guard Avery Moore nailed a three-point bomb to make the home crowd a little less at ease.
Trailing by only two points, the Rattlers fouled Wilkerson with 26 seconds left, sending the 76 percent free-throw shooter to the line with a chance to seal the victory. But Wilkerson missed the front-end of the one-and-one and FAMU grabbed the rebound.
After a timeout with 10 seconds left, Moore had on open look at a potential game-winning three-pointer with five ticks on the clock, but it missed the mark. FAMU collected the offensive rebound and the ball found its way into the hands of sophomore forward Amin Stevens, whose layup at the buzzer was too strong off the glass and the Eagles celebrated their 10th victory of the season, including three in-a-row.
Wilkerson finished with a game-high 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the floor, including a three-pointer, and converting 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. Junior forward Nick Chasten added 16 points and a team-best six rebounds for the Eagles, while junior shooting guard Landon Clement tallied 15 points and sophomore forward Dijon Manns contributed six points and five boards.
FAMU (7-13) was paced by Stevens with 16 points and eight rebounds as the lone Rattler starter to net double-figures. Freshman guard Reggie Lewis recorded 11 points off the bench, while senior Christopher Walker posted nine points and four boards, all in the second half.
For the complete story, visit www.famurattlersports.com or www.nccueaglepride.com
Shuler Paces SSU Over Longwood
FARMVILLE, Va.- Jovonni Shuler scored 22 points as Savannah State overcame a 10-point deficit to post a 76-67 win over Longwood in Willett Hall before 1,158 fans.
The Tigers trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half and trailed 40-34 at intermission.
Behind 44-36 early in the second period, SSU scored nine unanswered points to take a 45-44 lead with 15:09 left.
With the Lancers ahead 60-57, Cedric Smith made a layup with 6:07 left and hit a free throw with 4:41 on the clock to tie the game at 60.
A jumper by Shuler with 4:07 on the clock put the Tigers ahead 62-60 and they never trailed again as they finished the game with a 16-7 run.
Savannah State, who won their second in a row, improved to 4-17 while the Lancers fell to 8-16.
Preston Blackmon and Smith scored 14 points apiece for SSU while Jyles Smith added 13 points and eight rebounds.
Longwood's Antwan Cater led all scorers with 26 points and 13 rebounds.
For the complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com