Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. — Calvin Thompson and Dadrian Collins combined for 45 points and six of visiting Howard's 11 3-pointers to spark the Bison to an 82-77 win over Norfolk State on Monday night at Echols Hall.

Howard (5-14, 4-1 MEAC) shot 50 percent for the game, including 59 percent in the second half, to break the Spartans' two-game win streak. Thompson scored a game-high 24 points and Collins added 21 for Howard.

Howard broke open a tie game with a 17-4 second-half run to take control. The Spartans (3-13, 2-3) were able to whittle their deficit to four in the final minute, but could not overcome Howard.

Thompson, Kandi Mukole and Curtis White each hit treys in the decisive run. Collins added another trey shortly thereafter, his fourth of the night, as Howard shot 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) from long range in the second half.

Thompson hit two free throws with 3:17 remaining to give the Bison its largest lead of the night, 74-59. Guard Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.) scored six straight points in an 8-0 run that gave the Spartans some life. But Deloach fouled out with 1:41 left, and Howard sealed it by going 8-of-12 from the line in the final minute.

NSU 's starting guards Deloach, Aleek Pauline (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Rob Hampton (Queens, N.Y.) picked up two fouls apiece in the first half. The Spartans also had to deal with a hot start by Thompson, who hit his first five shots and scored his team's first 11 points. Hampton chipped in eight first-half points and Kyle O'Quinn (Jamaica, N.Y.) seven to keep NSU in it.

There were eight ties and 16 lead-changes in the first half. Howard took a 34-33 lead into the break when White picked up a loose ball under Howard's basket and dished to Mukole for a layup at the buzzer.

NSU started the second half strong as O'Quinn hit a 3-pointer and converted an easy dunk, but the Bison took the lead for good at 47-44 when Mukole (11 points) drained a triple with 14:57 left.

NSU was also hurt by 55 percent free-throw shooting (16-of-29), including 8-of-16 accuracy (50 percent) in the second half.

Thompson shook off a leg injury to shoot 7-of-11 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the line. Collins was 8-of-14 from the floor, 4-of-9 from behind the arc, and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. White added 19 points.

Deloach scored 22 points, 16 in the second half, and had a pair of steals. Hampton scored 13 of his 21 in the second half. O'Quinn posted his third double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He also blocked two shots and dished out two assists.

The Spartans hit the road for a game at Winston-Salem State on Saturday. The game will not count in the MEAC standings.