Box Score

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Jason Flagler had teams highs of 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists and led five South Carolina State players in double figures, and the Bulldogs used a big second-half surge to break Norfolk State's five-game win streak, 97-86, in a nationally televised game at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on Saturday.

The loss drops NSU (14-11, 10-3 MEAC) into sole possession of second place in the conference with three MEAC games remaining.

The Bulldogs (10-17, 6-7) shot 55 percent from the floor, 63 in the second half, and scored the most points by an NSU opponent this season before a live audience on ESPN Classic. SCSU, which trailed 47-42 at the half, scored 20 points off 16 NSU turnovers.

Tony Murphy (Paterson, N.J.) and Corey Lyons (Bronx, N.Y.) scored 23 points apiece for the Spartans. Both shot 9-of-20 from the floor, and Lyons matched his career high with nine rebounds. Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.) added 18 points.

The Spartans, who had just four of their 16 turnovers in the opening stanza, got 19 points from Murphy and shot 51 percent to take a five-point advantage, 47-42, into the break.

But five different Bulldogs scored during a 13-0 run early in the second half that gave SCSU control. SCSU made six of its eight field goals in the spurt, which turned a five-point Spartans' lead into an eight-point SCSU edge, at 60-52. The Bulldogs led by at least five the rest of the way.

Flagler scored 15 of his points after halftime. Everett Spencer added 12 of his 16 points after the intermission.

Jessie Burton poured in 20 points and made four of SCSU's nine 3-point field goals. Julius Carter added 14 points and Jason Johnson 10 for the Bulldogs.

NSU returns to action at 7:30 p.m. Monday night at Winston-Salem State. The game does not count in the conference standings since WSSU, a first-year MEAC member, is ineligible for postseason play.