NORFOLK, Va. – Kyle O'Quinn and Pendarvis Williams scored 18 points apiece, and Norfolk State won its fourth straight game to remain unbeaten in MEAC play with a 78-72 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday evening at Echols Hall.

The Spartans improved to 11-5 overall, 3-0 in the MEAC. This marks NSU's first 3-0 MEAC start since 2007-08.

NSU overcame a ragged first half by shooting 58 percent from the floor in the second half and outscoring the Hawks (3-12, 0-2) 24-10 from the charity stripe after the intermission.

The Spartans led by as many as nine in the first half after a free throw by Jamel Fuentes made it 26-17 with 4:37 remaining in the period. But UMES went on an 11-2 run, capped by a jumper by Hillary Haley, to tie the game at 28-all. Haley then hit two free throws with 0.2 seconds left in the half to take a 32-31 lead going into the break.

UMES' lead grew to four, 42-38, after a Louis Bell layup with 15:50 remaining in the game. The Hawks' last lead came after the second of Mark Robertson's treys gave them a 53-51 advantage with 8:24 left. But NSU responded with an 8-0 run to take control. Brandon Wheeless had a jumper and assisted on another by Chris McEachin, and O'Quinn punctuated the spurt with a fast-break one-handed slam dunk for a 59-53 NSU lead.

UMES tried to stretch the game out by pressing and fouling the Spartans in the final minutes. NSU hit 15-of-24 from the foul line to seal the win. For the night, the Spartans shot 45 free throws, making 29 (64 percent). The 45 free throws are the most attempted by an NSU team since Feb. 16, 2009, when the Spartans shot 48 in an 83-81 loss at UMES.

O'Quinn added seven rebounds and six blocked shots for NSU. Williams finished with five rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. McEachin finished with 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds, and Wheeless contributed eight points off the bench.

Bell and Percy Woods led UMES with 15 points apiece. Haley had 10 points and Pina Guillaume had nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Spartans host Howard at 8 p.m. on Monday night.