Box Score RENO, Nev. – Norfolk State (9-5) dropped a road contest at Nevada (10-3) 78-66 on Wednesday afternoon, concluding the Spartans three-game stretch in Nevada.
 
Joe Bryant Jr. posted a season-high 25 points on Saturday, making 9-of-14 attempts from the floor including a trio of 3-pointers. He added three rebounds, assists, one block, and one steal in a well-rounded performance.
 
Nevada tallied the game's first eight points before Bryant hit a 3-pointer to end the scoreless draught. NSU toed the line of single- and double-digit deficits throughout the rest of the first half, but eventually fell behind by as much as 17.
 
George Beale Jr. hit a mid-range jumper to stop a 6-0 Nevada run late in the first period, but the Spartans went into the break trailing by 16.
 
Kris Bankston (twice), Bryant, and Cahiem Brown each scored in the paint early in the second half to get Norfolk State's offense rolling, but that didn't slow down the Wolf Pack attack. Kenan Blackshear cut through the lane for a fastbreak dunk to push Nevada ahead by 19.
 
Although the lead got as large as 23, Daryl Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer to start a late push from the Spartans. Back-to-back Bryant buckets got the Norfolk State bench enthused, while Nyzaiah Chambers converted a layup in the paint as well.
 
Norfolk State trailed by 19 entering the final minute of play, but the Spartans played hard until the clock hit zero. Gilbert Brown earned a successful trip to the foul line, before a Chris Ford steal led to a George Beale dunk seconds later.
 
Terrance Jones nabbed his first steal of the game soon after, taking it coast to coast for a layup with a foul, knocking down the ensuing free throw. The Spartans scored the game's last seven points, all in the final 60 seconds.
 
The loss marked the Spartans' last competition of the calendar year, with a long gap awaiting them before a home matchup against Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. against Penn State Wilkes-Barre.