ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – Norfolk State was unable to overcome a fiery shooting performance from San Jose State on Saturday, falling 77-53 at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center.
 
In a battle between two Spartan teams, San Jose State (3-2) made 16 3-pointers to take down Norfolk State (3-2) at the 2023 Paradise Jam.
 
Jamarii Thomas led Norfolk State with 15 points off the bench, shooting 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Nyzaiah Chambers tallied nine points and five rebounds.
 
San Jose State started the game on a 5-0 run, as NSU struggled to find a groove offensively. Chambers ended the draught with a hook shot, but San Jose State responded with a 3-pointer at the other end.
 
The lead went to double digits as Trey Anderson hit his second 3-pointer of the afternoon, before Tibet Gorener kncocked down another shot from behind the arc moments later.
 
Trailing 23-6, Christian Ings made a pull-up jumper to slow SJSU's wave of momentum, and Daryl Anderson drained the Spartans' first 3-pointer of the day a minute later.
 
After San Jose State went ahead by 17 again within moments, but Chambers scored five consecutive points to get NSU back on track. Jaylani Darden converted a layup on Norfolk State's next possession, before Kuluel Mading drove into the lane for two points, bringing NSU back within eight.
 
Thomas made a crafty turnaround jumper to force a San Jose State timeout on the next possession, with Norfolk State on an 11-0 run.
 
But San Jose State responded with an 11-0 burst the other way, going into halftime with a 39-24 lead. SJSU had shot lights out from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes of play, making 8-of-16 3-point attempts in the opening half.
 
San Jose State stayed hot in the second half, making a trio of shots from behind the arc within the first four minutes of play. Allen Betrand and Thomas knocked down paint jumpers on back-to-back possessions, but SJSU expanded its lead to 25 with a series of strong offensive plays.
 
Norfolk State was unable to chip away significantly at the lead from there, as San Jose State earned its third win of the season.