Box Score
EL PASO, Texas — Bilal Benn scored 17 points off the bench to lead five Niagara players in double figures, and the Purple Eagles held on to hand Norfolk State its ninth straight loss, 80-69, in the consolation game of the Sun Bowl Invitational on Tuesday night at the Don Haskins Center.
Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.) had a game-high 26 points for the Spartans (1-10) and was named to the all-tournament team.
There were four ties and seven lead-changes in the first half. NSU used a 10-1 run midway through the period, which included a pair of dunks and two free throws by Christian Morris (Bronx, N.Y.), to take a 19-15 lead. Deloach capped the spurt with a jumper with 9:55 left in the half.
The Spartans maintained a 29-25 advantage after two Rob Hampton (Queens, N.Y.) free throws with 3:45 left in the half. But Benn hit a pair of 3-pointers in a 10-2 run to end the half that gave Niagara a 35-31 lead.
Niagara (9-5) scored the first three points of the second half on a Tyrone Lewis free throw and a dunk by Demetrius Williamson for a 38-31 Purple Eagles lead. Niagara led by at least six points the rest of the game, and would extend its lead to as much as 14 points.
The Spartans stayed close and would get within seven points on several occasions, but could not overcome the Purple Eagles.
Turnovers were a problem for NSU for the second night in a row. One night after committing a season-high 32 turnovers in a loss to host UTEP, the Spartans had 26 turnovers which led to 32 Niagara points on Tuesday.
Deloach (1,380 career points) had 16 of his 26 points in the second half to pass Bob Isabelle (1,372) for 17th on the Spartans' all-time scoring list. He added six rebounds and four steals. Hampton contributed 18 points and four assists while shooting 7-of-12 from the floor. Morris scored in double figures for the third straight game, finishing with 15 points and nine rebounds. Kyle O'Quinn (Jamaica, N.Y.) scored six points and matched his career high with 12 rebounds for the Spartans, who outrebounded Niagara 44-35.
Kashief Edwards and Rob Garrison scored 16 apiece for Niagara. Lewis added 12 points and Anthony Nelson had 11.
The Spartans return to action at Kent State for a 7 p.m. game on Monday night.
