Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State forced more than 20 turnovers and got a solid outing from freshman Joe Bryant Jr. as the Spartan men's basketball team came away with a 77-70 win over Virginia State on Friday night in an exhibition game at Joseph Echols Hall.
 
Bryant finished with 18 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the floor as well as 7-of-10 from the free throw line. The teams combined for more than 60 free throw attempts in a contest that took more than two hours.
 
Senior Jordan Butler had a double-double of 15 points and 11 boards, shooting 5-of-7 from the floor as the Spartans shot 48 percent for the night.
 
The game did not count toward either team's record.
 
NSU outscored the Trojans 31-13 in points off turnovers, and VSU ended the night with 21 giveaways.
 
The Trojans never led in the game, and they trailed by as much as 17 in the first half. But they got the Spartan lead down to nine at the break and were within one twice in the second half before NSU pulled ahead.
 
The 17-point advantage came midway through the first half after NSU's 11-2 run extended the lead to 29-12 with 6:34 to go. Bryant had a 3-pointer and a 3-point play during that time, which came after the Spartans had scored the first seven points of the game and built a 10-point lead eight minutes into the contest.
 
Bryant and junior Nic Thomas each had seven points in the first half, and sophomore Mastadi Pitt added eight. But the Trojans eventually got the Spartan lead down to seven with a minute left before senior Derrik Jamerson Jr. converted on a fastbreak layup for a 38-29 lead at the half.
 
The Trojans made it interesting in the second half. Following a dunk by Butler at the 15:26 mark, Virginia State scored the next 10 points of the game, covering a two and a half minute span. The Spartan lead stood at 46-45 at that point before Jamerson's 3-pointer gave NSU a slight cushion.
 
But Virginia State did not go away. The Spartan lead was down to one again with a little less than eight minutes left. Bryant had another 3-point play and two free throws as they scored nine of the game's next 10 points.
 
Virginia State never got closer than six the rest of the way. Walter Williams made three free throws for the Trojans with just a few seconds left for the final margin.
 
He made 9-of-12 from the free throw line and led Virginia State with 17 points. Jalen Jackson added 14 points and eight rebounds, helping the Trojans to a slight edge on the glass.
 
Jamerson scored in double figures with 10. Pitt had all eight of his points in the first half, and sophomore Kyonze Chavis also had eight points in the game.
 
Norfolk State held a 34-20 edge in points in the paint. The Spartans made 25-of-32 from the free throw line, while VSU was 24-of-31. The Trojans were held to 35 percent shooting in the second half as well as 40 percent overall. They did manage to make 8-of-19 from long range.
 
NSU made exactly 12-of-25 from the floor in each half.
 
The Spartans begin the regular season on Tuesday night when they play at No. 19 Michigan.