O'Quinn, Reserves Combine to Lead Norfolk State To Win Over Howard

Winston-Salem, NC-March 9---Kyle O'Quinn scored a game-high 25 points and the bench contributed 30 points to lead Norfolk State to a 68-53 win over Howard in the first round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men's  Basketball Tournament at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum.

The Spartans (11-19), the Number 6 seed will take on Coppin State on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

The Bison (6-24), the Number 11 seed, came out strong on the play of sophomore guard Anton Dickerson and took an early 16-7 lead before Norfolk State responded with an 18-9 run to tie the game at 25-all at the half.

O'Quinn, the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection, started slow but began to pick up his play near the end of the half by scoring 9 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.

Howard, which lost both games to Norfolk State this season, opened with a 14-7 second half run to regain the lead at 39-32 at the 16:17 mark.

Then O'Quinn began to dominate the game at both ends.  The 6-8 junior played a part in almost every play during a 20-7 run over a seven-minute stretch.  The spurt gave the Spartans a 52-39 advantage at the 9:05 mark.

 "We expect this kind of effort from Kyle," said Norfolk State Coach Anthony Evans.  "They did a pretty good job on him the first two games, but he did a much better job of recognizing what they were doing and taking advantage of it."

Added Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry, "He played like players of his caliber are supposed to play in games like this.  He played well in all phases of the game.  We did the best we could do, all things considered."

O'Quinn hit on 8-of-11 from the field, was a perfect 9 of 9 from the free throw line, blocked 4 shots and recorded a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds.

With the Bison concerned about O'Quinn's presence, the Spartans were able to get production from its bench, which outscored their Howard counterparts, 30-5.  Marcos Tamares and Pendarvis Williams, a member of the All-Rookie team, tallied 11 and 10 respectively off the bench and appeared to score easily against the undermanned and tired Bison.

 "We have faced this all season," said Nickelberry, who suits up only 9 players. "Our starters play a lot of minutes.  When you factor that along with foul trouble, there is not much we can do.  I don't have an answer for fatigue."

The Bison were led by Dadrian Collins, who scored 12 of his 14 in the second half before fouling out and Dickerson and Riley, who each tallied 11.

Holloman, Trapp Lead Top Seed Bethune Cookman To Win Over South Carolina State

Winston-Salem, NC-March 9---Garrius Holloman came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points and Mikel Trapp added all 10 of his points after intermission to lead Bethune-Cookman to a 66-50 win over South Carolina State in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum.

The Wildcats (21-11), the Number 1 seed, advance to the semifinal round where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between Morgan State and North Carolina A&T on Friday at 6 p.m.

The first half was one of runs.  The Bulldogs jumped out to the early lead, only to have the Wildcats get a run of their own.  There were three ties and seven lead changes before Bethune-Cookman took a 31-27 advantage at intermission.

It remained close in the second half until the Wildcats embarked on a 16-4 run over an eight-minute span that opened up a 53-38 lead and they never looked back.  Holloman, Trapp and CJ Reed took turns scoring during the run, getting 14 points off SC State second half turnovers.

 "I thought we had a great effort tonight," said Bethune-Cookman Coach Cliff Reed, the MEAC Coach of the Year.  "We have played like champs all year and we wanted to continue that in the first round of this tournament."

The Bulldogs (10-22), the Number 9 seed, missed shots in the second half and failed to get back on defense and stop the Wildcats transition game that scored 25 points.

 "I would like credit to Bethune-Cookman," said South Carolina State Coach Tim Carter.  "They did a tremendous job in the second half of running their offense.  They played smart basketball and executed well.  We did not have an answer for them."

Holloman was 6-of-10 from the field, Trapp was 2-of-4 from 3-point range and Reed, the MEAC Player of the Year, made his imprint on the game with 12 points and seven assists in 38 minutes of play.

 "This is Garrius and Trapp's first tournament, so it is important that they made shots tonight," said CJ Reed, the 2010-11 MEAC Player of the Year and son of the head coach.  "It is going to get tougher as we get deeper into the tournament."

Tyvon Williams came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs with 12 points while Khalif Toombs added eight points.


Pellum, Morgan Combine To Lead Hampton Past UMES

Winston-Salem, NC-March 9---Darrion Pellum scored a game-high 23 points and Kwame Morgan added 17 to lead Hampton to a 77-55 win over Maryland Eastern Shore in the quarterfinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball tournament at the Joel Coliseum.  The Pirates (22-8), the number 2 seed, advance to the semifinal round where they will face the winner of the Norfolk State-Coppin State game on Friday at 8 p.m.

The Pirates came out of the blocks fast, getting transition baskets and 3-pointers en route to a 40-28 halftime lead.

Pellum and Morgan led the way with 15 and 10 points respectively.  The Hawks (9-22), the Number 10 seed, had their share of shots but they missed 20 of 30 taken and turned the ball over 13 times, leading to 17 Pirates points.

"We know that they had played a lot of basketball so we decided to put pressure on them," said Hampton head coach Ed Joyner.  "We went to our bench earlier than usual in an attempt to wear them down.  We executed it well.  We forced 21 turnovers and score 24 points off them.  That is what we set out to do and the team executed it well."

The Hawks, who had advanced to this round after an energy-sapping double overtime win over Florida A&M on Tuesday, tried to stay within striking distance of the rested Pirates, but each time they had a chance to cut the margin to single digits, Hampton would come up with defensive stops, baskets or second chance opportunities.

"Hampton is a very good basketball team," observed UMES head coach Frankie Allen.  "They are very balanced.  They got out on us early and we were playing catch up.  They kept that 10 to 12 point lead and we were never able to close that gap."

With the Hawks showing signs of fatigue, Hampton had its running game in gear and pulled away with its transition game and all-around defense that held the Hawks to 29 percent shooting (19-of- 64) while blocking 10 shots.

Pellum, a first team All-MEAC selection and Morgan, a second team choice, did not shoot particularly well, but they were able to get baskets in a variety of ways, either connecting on long range bombs, driving to the basket, or knocking down free throws.

"Pellum is one of the best players in this league," said Joyner of his junior forward.  "When he and Kwame are playing well, we are a very good basketball team."

Pellum finished with seven rebounds and four assists to go along with his 23 points.  Morgan grabbed seven rebounds to complement his 17 points and Christopher Tolson added 11 points off the bench.

Haley, a second team All-MEAC selection, led the Hawks with 17 points and seven rebounds and Dishawn Bradshaw contributed 10 off the bench.