Box Score
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Freshman forward Kyle O'Quinn (Jamaica, N.Y.) scored a career-high 21 points and drained a career-high four 3-pointers, all in the second half, to help Norfolk State rally for a 68-62 win over South Carolina State on Saturday afternoon at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
O'Quinn, who scored 17 points in the second half, added a personal best four steals and two assists to help the Spartans (6-11, 4-2 MEAC) win their third in a row and fifth in their last six games.
Jason Johnson paced the Bulldogs (6-11, 1-4) with a game-high 31 points and eight rebounds. Johnson was 11-of-11 from the floor, but the rest of the Bulldogs shot just 12-of-44.
Johnson scored 14 of his points in the first half to help SCSU gain the early momentum. SCSU shot 52 percent in the opening period and led by as many as 11 points.
NSU rallied in the first half thanks in part to forward Kevin Worsley (Chesapeake, Va.), whose monstrous dunk over Westley Telfare and ensuing free throw finished off a 3-point play that gave the Spartans energy. Point guard Aleek Pauline (Jamaica, N.Y.) then hit two free throws to draw NSU within 37-35 going into the break.
Still, with NSU leading scorers Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.) and Corey Lyons (Brooklyn, N.Y.) struggling on the way to a combined 9-of-22 shooting effort, SCSU remained on top and led by five (54-49) after Telfare's layup with 5:30 left in the game. But O'Quinn scored eight points in a 14-2 run over the next 3:45, capping it with back-to-back 3-pointers that gave the Spartans a 63-56 advantage with 1:45 left. O'Quinn was 4-of-4 from 3-point range in the second half.
Deloach added 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals for NSU, which was credited with 17 steals as a team. Pauline added five steals and Brandon Monroe (Raeford, N.C.) four. Monroe also had a game-high 11 rebounds. Worsley chipped in with nine points and six rebounds.
Telfare and Jason Flagler had 10 points apiece for SCSU, which lost its fifth in a row.
NSU returns to action Monday night in a non-conference game at Winston-Salem State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
