Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rob Hampton led all players with 23 points, 18 in Norfolk State's big second half, and added six rebounds to help the Spartans claim a 63-53 victory over Howard in an EPNU-televised game on Monday night at Burr Gymnasium.

Hampton was 6-of-9 from the floor, 3-of-5 from 3-point range and a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line to help the Spartans (3-13, 2-3 MEAC) win for the second time in their last three games. Chris McEachin added 11 points for NSU, which matched its season high by making nine 3-point field goals.

Mike Phillips and Dadrian Collins had 11 points apiece for Howard (2-15, 0-5), which lost its seventh straight game. The Bison shot just 32.7 percent from the floor (17-of-52), a season low by an NSU opponent.

The Spartans led the final 14 minutes of the first half, but had their lead whittled to just one, 25-24, at halftime. Howard proceeded to score the first two baskets of the second half, one each by Kyle Riley and Alphonso Leary, to take a 28-25 lead. It was the Bison's first lead since 5-4.

But the Spartans went on a 14-0 spurt over the next six minutes to take control. Hampton, McEachin and Aleek Pauline each hit a 3-pointer during the run, which ended when Leary hit a free throw to cut the Spartans' lead to 39-29. But Howard went over eight minutes without a field goal, missing 12 straight field goals between Leary's short turn-around jumper with 18:55 remaining and Collins' 3-pointer with 10:44 left on the clock.

Howard was able to hang around as NSU committed eight second-half turnovers against the Bison's zone defense. Anton Dickerson buried a 3-pointer from the baseline and then a free throw 35 seconds later to bring the Bison within 54-48 with just over three minutes left in the game.

But McEachin hit his third and final 3-pointer of the night to stretch the lead back to nine with 2:41 remaining, and the Spartans were not threatened again.

Rodney McCauley added eight points, all coming in the first half, including a pair of 3-pointers that helped stake NSU to the early edge. Kyle O'Quinn was limited to five points, but snared a game-high 10 rebounds and blocked four shots. Pauline had eight assists and Tim Zephyr chipped in with seven points, four rebounds and four assists.

NSU returns home for its next two games, beginning with a 6 p.m. matchup with North Carolina Central this Saturday at Echols Hall.