Norfleet, 3-Point Shooting Lead Mount St. Mary’s Past NSU
NORFOLK, Va. – Led by a 31-point effort by Julian Norfleet, Mount St. Mary’s shot nearly 70 percent from the floor in a 104-84 victory over the Norfolk State men’s basketball team on Friday night at Joseph Echols Hall.
The Mountaineers hit 18-of-25 from 3-point range in breaking NSU’s 16-game home winning streak. The Spartans did fare well on the offensive end, hitting close to 60 percent for the game, but NSU (8-7) was unable to overcome The Mount’s prowess from long range.
Norfleet hit 11-of-13 overall and had four of the team’s 3-pointers to go along with 10 assists and four steals. Mount St. Mary’s (4-9) shot 35-of-51 (68.6 percent) overall on the night, including 22-of-29 (75.9 percent) in the first half.
NSU outscored the Mountaineers by two in the second half and committed just two turnovers after having 11 in the first half. Mount St. Mary’s had a 20-4 edge in points off turnovers in the first half but failed to score any in the second. The Mount also had a 13-2 edge in fastbreak points in the first but scored only two in that manner after intermission.
Read full story at NSUSpartans.com.
Northern Illinois Holds Off Bethune-Cookman
DEKALB, Ill. – Clemmye Owens matched his career-high of 19 points in Bethune-Cookman’s 65-51 loss to Northern Illinois Friday.
The freshman from Toledo, Ohio was 5-11 from three-point range for the Wildcats, who concluded their 12 game-road trip. B-CU (2-15) hasn’t played at home since November 21.
Malik Taylor and Maurice Taylor each scored nine points, while Mikel Trapp added seven.
Northern Illinois (6-6) scored the first eight points, but B-CU scored nine points in a one minute, 26-second spurt to take a 9-8 lead on two Taylor free throws with 13:28 remaining in the first half. The Huskies scored the next eight points, and would build a 33-22 halftime lead.
Trailing 40-24, the Wildcats got within nine at 42-33 on Owens’ three-pointer with 13:01 left, but could come no closer.
Darrell Bowie and Aaric Armstead led the Huskies with 11 each.
Read more at BCUAthletics.com.
Bulldogs Fall Short, 82-75, To Gamecocks
COLUMBIA, S.C—Senior forward Matthew Hezekiah tossed in a team-high 18 points, while guard Theron Stephens chipped in 15 but it wasn’t enough as South Carolina State dropped a tough, 82-75, defeat to SEC foe South Carolina Friday at Colonial Life Arena.
“I told our kids that it was our last chance to win an out of conference game against a high major opponent,” said SC State head coach Murray Garvin. “We wanted to try and pull off something epic, something we would be remembered for.”
Garvin stated, “I give credit to Coach Martin and his coaching staff because they did a good job of persevering and fighting through a tough basketball game. At the same time, I’m also proud of our program.”
South Carolina (7-6) jumped out to a 5-0 lead off a jumper by Brenton Williams, followed by a 3-pointer by Duane Notice. Junior guard Tyrone Johnson’s 3-pointer put the Gamecocks up 11, 21-10, at the 10:30 mark. Senior guard Adama “Louis” Adams pulled the Bulldogs within nine, 32-23, on a driving layup with 5:58 remaining in the half. USC led 44-33 at intermission.
SC State (4-9) turned the pressure up in the second-half as Stephens nailed back-to-back 3-pointers in the first minute to cut the lead to five, 44-39. A pair of missed free-throws by freshman guard Sindarius Thornwell, sparked a 6-0 run by the Bulldogs to pull within two 50-48 at the 15:23 mark.
Read the complete story at SCSUAthletics.com.