NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team blew out William & Mary 96-62 on Tuesday evening, fueled by one of the team's strongest offensive performances of the year.
 
Jamarii Thomas continued his stellar start to the season, posting 23 points with a career-high nine assists to lead NSU. Five Spartans scored in double figures – Thomas, Christian Ings (15), Allen Betrand (15), Kuluel Mading (12), and Jaylani Darden (10).
 
Ings didn't need much time to make his mark. The graduate guard scored 15 points in just 12 minutes of action, adding two rebounds and an assist.
 
Thomas, the MEAC's leading scorer, got the Spartans moving immediately, tallying the first seven points of the evening. The burst was made up by a driving layup and a pair of jump shots, including a 3-pointer.
 
Bladen added a pair of paint scores to bring NSU's advantage to 15-4, before Thomas knocked down a jumper and Darden scored from his own offensive rebound. Tyrese Jenkins drained a 3-pointer to surge the Spartans ahead 24-7.
 
William & Mary strung a couple of baskets together to get back within 10, but Betrand knocked down a deep shot a minute later to return the momentum to Norfolk State. Another Tribe run cut the deficit to seven, but 3-pointers from Jones and Betrand helped NSU separate to a 45-28 halftime advantage.
 
Darden opened the second half with a 3-pointer, before Thomas powered to the hoop for an and-one finish. Thomas found his high school teammate Mading in the paint for an easy layup, then again for a 3-pointer to put the Spartans ahead by 23.
 
Jenkins converted from behind the arc for a second time, tallying another assist to Thomas' total. Thomas knocked down a 3-pointer to close out his evening, subbing out with seven minutes to play.
 
The Spartans gave the home crowd some flashy highlights to wrap up the night, as Mading and Ings slammed down thunderous dunks on the fast break. Ing's knocked down a 3-pointer with a foul for a four-point play in the last minute, putting a final emphasis on the dominant victory.  
 
Checking The Box Score

• Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans with 23 points and a career-high nine assists, adding five rebounds and four steals as well
• Christian Ings tallied 15 points, two rebounds, and one assist in just 12 minutes of action
• Five Spartans scored in double-figures: Thomas, Ings, Betrand (15), Kuluel Mading (12), and Jaylani Darden (10)
• Trey Moss led William & Mary with 20 points
• Norfolk State shot 30-of-56 from the floor (53.6 percent) and 12-of-21 (57.1 percent) from behind the arc
• Norfolk State recorded 26 points off turnovers, forcing 17 Tribe turnovers
• The Spartans shot 24-of-27 (88.9 percent) from the free throw line

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News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 5-3 with the victory
• William & Mary dropped to 3-5 with the loss
• The Spartans are 4-0 at home
• Norfolk State now leads the all-time series with William & Mary 3-2, winning the last three matchups
• NSU improved to 31-1 under head coach Robert Jones when five or more Spartans score in double figures
• Norfolk State shot 53.6 percent from the field on Tuesday, it's best mark against a Division I opponent since shooting 59.6 percent from the floor against South Carolina State last year
• The Spartans are 74-7 under Jones when shooting 50.0 percent or better, and 31-2 when scoring 90 points or more
• NSU shot 24-of-27 (88.9 percent) from the free throw line, its best mark this year at the charity stripe
• The Spartans shot 57.1 percent from the 3-point line, their best performance from behind the arc since shooting 57.9 percent against Alabama A&M on Nov. 19, 2022 

UP NEXT
 
The Spartans now head to Richmond, Va. for another in-state showdown, facing VCU (4-3) on Friday, Dec. 1, the first meeting between the two foes since the 1998-99 season. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.