EL PASO, Texas – East Tennessee State started off on fire and never looked back in an 89-61 win over the Norfolk State men's basketball team in the championship game of the WestStar Bank Sun Bowl Invitational on Saturday evening.
 
ETSU made 12 3-pointers for the contest and shot 53 percent overall in capturing the title at UTEP's Don Haskins Center. Included in there was an 8-of-9 start from deep for the Buccaneers, with all eight coming in a row after they missed their opening shot. They went up by as much as 19 in the first half.
 
For NSU (5-9), senior Derrik Jamerson Jr. led the way with 20 points, hitting 6-of-9 from 3-point range and 7-of-11 overall. He helped the Spartans shoot 10-of-24 from beyond the arc as the only player in double figures. He was also named to the all-tournament team.
 
The Buccaneers (10-4) shot exactly 50 percent from deep, with Tray Boyd knocking down 6-of-8. He finished with 24 points, hitting 8-of-10 overall as well. ETSU, however, also held an advantage down low, outscoring the Spartans 36-12 in points in the paint.
 
The Spartans never led in the game, and that's because after senior Alex Long and Jamerson had a pair of buckets early, the Buccaneers built a 23-9 advantage thanks in part to five 3-pointers in the first seven minutes of play. The Spartans got to within nine after freshman C.J. Kelly knocked down three straight free throws nine minutes in, but the Buccaneers extended their lead to 19 at 38-19 on a 12-2 run.
 
Still with seven minutes left in the half, senior Armani Branch and Jamerson ended that run with 3-pointers each. Daivien Williamson's 3-point play put ETSU up by 18, but junior Steven Whitley's two free throws with 6.9 seconds left made it 45-30 at the half.
 
The Buccaneers made 57 percent in the first half, including 8-of-12 from deep.
 
After Jamerson connected on another trey, the Buccaneers extended their advantage to 20 early in the second half. Play went back and forth for the next several minutes before the Bucs went on an 11-1 run to get the lead past 25. Jamerson made a trey from the left corner immediately after, but ETSU went up by as much as 31 near the end of the game.
 
Williamson finished with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting for ETSU, including 13 points in the first half. Bo Hodges, the tournament's MVP, shot 5-of-8 for 14 points with six rebounds and four assists.
 
The Buccaneers lived up to their billing as a top rebounding team, holding a 43-24 edge on the glass. Mladen Armus grabbed 10 of those boards. Jeromy Rodriguez had seven with eight points and five steals.
 
Kelly added eight points for the Spartans, and Long and junior Nic Thomas each totaled seven points. Norfolk State shot 19-of-49 for the contest (39 percent), compared to 30-of-57 for ETSU.
 
The Buccaneers also outscored the Spartans 30-10 in points off turnovers despite sitting just +2 in turnover margin for the game. They also held a 14-2 advantage in fastbreak points.
 
NSU will return from the Christmas break to play at Niagara next Saturday at 3 p.m.