NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State men's basketball got its quest for a MEAC three-peat going on the right foot Saturday, taking down Maryland Eastern Shore 57-46 at Echols Hall in the Spartans' first conference matchup of the 2022-23 campaign.
 
The defending back-to-back MEAC regular season and tournament champions led by just one at halftime, but used an efficient second half to earn their 19^th consecutive home victory. Norfolk State has now won five of its last six conference openers.
 
Joe Bryant Jr. led the Spartans (11-5, 1-0 MEAC) with 15 points and seven assists, tying his career high in the latter category. Kris Bankston cleaned the glass with 12 rebounds, his fourth game of the season with double-digit rebounds.
 
Norfolk State's quick pace helped the team get off to a blazing start, scoring the game's first 11 points. The Spartans wasted no time heating up from deep in that stretch, starting with a 3-pointer by Daryl Anderson before two more from Nyzaiah Chambers.
 
Bryant drained another long ball to put NSU ahead 14-1, but the Hawks regained their momentum late in the first half with multiple tough baskets. A pair of 3-pointers helped UMES even the game at 18.
 
A second-chance layup by Terrance Jones pushed NSU ahead by four, but UMES responded with a 5-0 run to take its first lead of the night. It would turn out to be the Hawks' only lead of the evening, as Bryant sank a buzzer-beating mid-range jumper to give NSU a one-point advantage at the break.
 
Jones continued his strong showing off the bench in the second half, setting up an Anderson layup with a steal, before notching two points for himself on a fastbreak moments later. The sophomore guard finished the evening with eight points, five rebounds, and two assists.
 
Bankston got the arena rocking with multiple jaw-dropping dunks, including a one-handed alley-oop slam from Cahiem Brown's lob pass. Bryant got an acrobatic layup to fall with a foul in the final minutes, putting the finishing touches on the Spartans' victory.
 
Norfolk State looks to continue its hot stretch at Delaware State on Monday at 7:30 p.m.