NORFOLK, Va. – Chris McEachin and Pendarvis Williams scored 16 points apiece and the Norfolk State defense turned in one of its finest efforts of the season in the Spartans' fifth straight win, a 68-48 decision over Howard on Monday night at Echols Hall.

The win helps the Spartans improve to 12-5 overall, 4-0 in the MEAC, their best MEAC start since 2004-05.
NSU hounded Howard (4-14, 1-4) into 27 percent shooting and forced 18 Bison turnovers. The 48 points and 27 percent shooting Howard posted are the second-lowest marks by an NSU opponent this season.

The Spartans never trailed and there was just one tie, at 2-all. NSU scored the next 12 points to take a 14-2 lead and never looked back. The Spartans' full-court press harassed Howard into six early turnovers and the Bison missed nine of their first 10 shots. A pair of Quasim Pugh free throws gave the Spartans their largest lead of the half, 28-13, with 4:50 remaining before halftime.

NSU was able to hold onto a double-digit lead, 34-23, going into the intermission despite having six players whistled for two fouls apiece in the stanza. NSU's deep bench paid dividends, however, as nine different Spartans scored in the half. NSU also converted six offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points in the first 20 minutes.

The Bison got as close as nine, at 34-25, in the early going of the second half. Howard still trailed by 10, 38-28, before the Spartans answered with a 20-5 spurt to take a commanding 58-33 lead. Williams scored nine points in the run and Rob Johnson hit three long two-point jumpers for NSU.

The big lead allowed coach Anthony Evans to empty the bench early. Fifteen Spartans played and a season-high 11 scored. Johnson had a season-high eight points for NSU, Pugh contributed seven and Brandon Goode had a season-best six.

But the story of the night was the Spartan defense. Howard made just 15-of-55 shots from the floor and 1-of-17 from 3-point range. NSU hounded Howard leading scorer Glenn Andrews, who came in averaging 16.9 points per game and had topped 20 in three straight, to 0-fo-8 shooting from the floor and two total points. Rodney McCauley drew the assignment of guarding Andrews much of the night, and McCauley responded with tough one-on-one defense in addition to season highs of eight rebounds and three steals.

Prince Okoroh led the Bison with eight points, with six of those coming from the free throw line.

NSU is now alone in first place in the MEAC following its win over Howard and losses by Bethune-Cookman and Morgan State, the other two teams that entered the night unbeaten in conference play. The Spartans hit the road for their next three conference games, beginning with a 4 p.m. contest at Morgan State this Saturday.