Box Score NORFOLK, Va. – Kyle O'Quinn posted game highs of 22 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots to lead Norfolk State to its third win in the last four games, 73-62, over Long Island on Wednesday night at Echols Hall.
O'Quinn recorded his eighth double-double of the year and he had it by halftime, tallying 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in the first half alone. His big half helped stake NSU (7-4) to an 11-point halftime lead.
Neither team led by more than four points in the first 15 minutes as the two defenses kept the game close. But NSU ended the half on an 8-1 run. Junior college transfer Quasim Pugh hit a key 3-pointer in the spurt, which Rodney McCauley capped with a layup with 26 seconds left before the break to give NSU a 35-24 lead going into the break.
Two mid-range jumpers less than a minute apart by Marist transfer Rob Johnson pushed the Spartan advantage to 49-37 with 11:55 left. But the Blackbirds (5-6) scored the next 11 points to get within one, 49-48, with 9:01 remaining. Gerrell Martin hit three free throws in the run and Julian Boyd finished it with a one-handed dunk.
But NSU held LIU to one field goal in the next four minutes, and Jamel Fuentes hit a long two-point jumper to stretch the lead to 59-52 with 5:06 remaining. The Spartans were able to seal it at the line, hitting 6-of-8 free throws to hold on and avenge a 23-point loss to LIU from last season. In all, the Spartans shot 76 percent from the charity stripe (19-of-25), their third-best performance of the season.
Chris McEachin added 12 points for NSU, which held LIU to 34 percent shooting from the floor (22-of-65). Pugh and Johnson – both playing in their first game in Spartan uniforms – tallied 10 and seven points, respectively. McCauley contributed eight points and Pendarvis Williams seven. O'Quinn had a team-high four assists and added two of NSU's 10 steals. McEachin added three blocked shots as the Spartans tallied a season-high 10 rejections.
Boyd led LIU with 13 points and nine rebounds. Jamal Olasewere added 12 points and seven boards.
NSU hits the road for its next four games, beginning with a 5 p.m. Eastern game at Illinois State on Sunday.
