Box Score
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Winston-Salem State closed the game on a 17-8 run over the final 5:02, earning a 68-65 win over Norfolk State in the Spartans' final non-conference matchup of the season on Monday night at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum Annex.
The Spartans (14-12) turned the ball over five times in the final 3:21 and missed three of their final four free throws in losing their second straight game. It is the first time NSU has lost two in a row since dropping four straight from Dec. 10-22.
In a game that saw 17 ties and 20 lead-changes, NSU claimed a 57-51 lead, its largest of the night, on a free throw by Kevin Worsley (Chesapeake, Va.) with 5:15 remaining. The Spartans still maintained a five-point edge, 59-54, after a stick-back by Larry Vickers (Virginia Beach, Va.) with 4:31 left. But WSSU guard Isiah Tucker scored five straight Rams' points, the last on a three-point play with 3:25 left, to tie the game at 59.
The Spartans took their final lead of the night when Rashid Cann (Greensboro, N.C.) went 1-of-2 from the line with 2:59 remaining. But the Rams (11-15) took the lead for good on Paul Davis' two free throws with 2:13 left, and Brian Fisher stole the ball from Cann on NSU's ensuing possession and converted a fast-break layup to give the Rams a three-point edge, 63-60.
Still trailing by three, 65-62, the Spartans turned the ball over on three straight possessions in the final two minutes of the game. Fisher and Roy Peake each hit 1-of-2 from the free throw line to push the Rams' lead to 67-62.
Worsley cut the Spartans' deficit to 67-65 with a 3-pointer with six seconds left, and Tucker made just 1-of-2 from the line with three seconds left. But NSU could not get a shot off in the final seconds as WSSU held on.
NSU shot just 53 percent (9-of-17) from the free throw line, their fifth straight game shooting under 60 percent. WSSU shot 67 percent (16-of-24) from the line. The Spartans were whistled for 26 fouls to the Rams' 13.
Jamal Durham had 17 points, Davis 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Peake added 12 points for WSSU, which was 50 percent (6-of-12) from 3-point range.
Tony Murphy (Paterson, N.J.) led NSU with 15 points and five assists. Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.) had 14 points and seven rebounds before fouling out, and Brandon Monroe (Raeford, N.C.) had 12 points and nine boards. Worsley had a career-high five of NSU's 17 steals, while Murphy and Deloach had four each.
Despite the loss, Murphy set yet another milestone. He became NSU's all-time Division I era scoring leader, surpassing two-time MEAC Player of the Year Damian Woolfolk. Murphy, who now has 1,715 career points, jumped from 12th to ninth on the all-time school scoring ledger on Monday. He passed Ronald Wilson (1,704), Derrick Bryant (1,710) and Woolfolk (1,711) along the way.
NSU continues its five-game road swing to end the season with a crucial MEAC matchup at Hampton at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
