NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team showed no signs of weakness in a 90-56 victory over Apprentice at Echols Hall on Thursday night, moving to 2-0 on the young season.
 
The Spartans spread the wealth against the Builders, with five players scoring in double-figures: Jaylani Darden (12), Chris Fields Jr. (12), Jamarii Thomas (11), Allen Betrand (11), and Christian Ings (10).
 
In addition to his 12 points, Darden led the Spartans on the glass with seven rebounds, while Fields added six from off the bench. Thomas stayed active in the passing lines, coming away with four steals.
 
Norfolk State got the game started about as comfortably as possible, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers on the team's first two offensive possession. Betrand made the first off a Chambers pass, with the former making the assist on the next shot from Thomas.
 
With both teams showing up strong defensively early in the game, Norfolk State needed a brief spark to take control of the game. That swing came when Terrance Jones drained a stepback 3-pointer at the top of the key, and Daman Tate came up with a steal for an easy Tyrel Bladen dunk moments later.
 
Thomas got in on the fast break frenzy with a steal and dunk of his own after a timeout. Norfolk State scored 23 points off turnovers on Thursday, with 18 points in transition.
 
Gilbert Brown knocked down a 3-pointer a few minutes later, before Chris Fields drained one from deep to give the Spartans a 46-26 halftime lead.
 
The Spartans kept the momentum going in the second half, starting with a Betrand jumper, Darden second-chance layup, and Chambers 3-pointer. After making just four shots from behind the arc last season, Chambers already has tallied two in the Spartans' first two games of the 2023-24 campaign.
 
Another steal and dunk from Thomas pumped up the crowd, before another familiar Spartan guard started to make his mark. Shortly after checking back into the game, Ings got to the rim with strong drives and quick moves on the fast break, getting involved by scoring and dishing assists.
 
Darden came up with a steal for a dunk on the other end in the final five minutes of regulation, assisting on a Betrand dunk just 30 seconds later. Bladen slammed down a Brown pass in the final 30 seconds, putting a stamp on the blowout victory.
 
Checking The Box Score

• The Spartans spread the wealth against the Builders, with five players scoring in double-figures: Jaylani Darden (12), Chris Fields Jr. (12), Jamarii Thomas (11), Allen Betrand (11), and Christian Ings (10).
• Darden also led NSU on the glass with seven rebounds
• Thomas recorded four steals
• Norfolk State's bench accounted for 45 points
• Gilbert Brown led NSU in assists for the second straight game, recording four on Thursday

News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 2-0 on the season with the victory
• Norfolk State is now 30-1 under head coach Robert Jones when five or more Spartans score in double figures
• The Spartans have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 192-111 through two games 

UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State will play its third consecutive home game on Monday night, matching up against rival Hampton for the Battle of the Bay at Echols Hall. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m.
 
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