HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Hofstra men's basketball team used a powerful second half to defeat Norfolk State 74-58 on Saturday afternoon at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
 
Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans in a multitude of categories, tallying 17 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Christian Ings scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half, shooting 7-of-14 from the floor and pulling down five rebounds.
 
Norfolk State showed poise in the difficult road environment, taking an immediate 5-0 lead. Hofstra's Bryce Washington responded with a 3-pointer to get the crowd involved, but Ings answered right back with a driving finish for two points.
 
Ings knocked down a paint jumper shortly after, but Howard knocked down another 3-point jumper. Ings continued his terrific start to the game after the first media timeout, soaring to the rim for another basket.
 
The Pride stormed back into the game, going on a 5-0 run to tie the game 11-11. Allen Betrand drained a fadeaway jumper for the Spartans, retaking the lead in the process, but Hofstra's Tyler Thomas made a 3-pointer to flip the advantage soon after.
 
Back-to-back jumpers from Ings, including one from behind the arc, gave the Spartans a six-point lead. The Pride pulled within two with a couple of inside scores, but Ings quieted the crowd with another successful attempt at mid-range. The graduate guard scored 13 points in the first half.
 
Betrand drained a 3-poitner to give Norfolk State a seven-point advantage, the team's largest lead of the afternoon. The Pride began heating up from behind the arc, however, shooting their way back in front.
 
Daryl Anderson got in on the action with a 3-pointer late in the period, helping the Spartans earn a one-point halftime lead.
 
Hofstra began to pick things up offensively at the start of the second half, opening the period on a 10-1 burst, taking control of the game with a 41-33 lead.
 
The Spartans fought back quickly, though. Thomas finished through contact for an and-one score, before Betrand and Kuluel Mading tallied two-point baskets. Thomas gave NSU a 42-41 lead with a pair of free throws, capping off an 9-0 NSU run.
 
Hofstra slowed the spurt down with a 3-pointer, but Ings got to the rim for a game-tying layup. The Pride sprinted out to a nine-point advantage from there, though, knocking down three more shots from behind the arc, a total of four consecutive possessions with a made 3-pointer.
 
Hofstra went up by double-digits with a couple of inside scores before Mading stopped the 11-1 run with a two-handed slam.
 
Pride guard Jaquan Carlos found a rhythm with multiple scores in quick succession, putting Hofstra ahead 66-49. Norfolk State fought to trim the deficit back to 10 in the final minutes, but were unable to claw all the way back against the tough road opponent.
 
Checking The Box Score

• Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans with 17 points, seven assists, and six rebounds
• Christian Ings added 15 points and five rebounds, scoring 13 points in the first half
• Tyler Thomas led Hofstra with 22 points, knocking down five shots from behind the arc
• Norfolk State shot 23-of-52 (44.2 percent) from the field, while Hofstra shot 26-of-54 (48.1 percent)
• Hofstra shot 11-of-34 (32.4 percent) from behind the arc, holding the Spartans to 4-of-13 (30.8 percent)
• Norfolk State did not register a fastbreak point on Saturday
• NSU shot 8-of-11 from the free throw line
• There were three lead changes and seven ties on Saturday 

News & Notes

• Norfolk State dropped to 7-5 with the loss
• Hofstra improved to 7-4 with the win
• Hofstra now leads the all-time series between the schools 2-0
• Jamarii Thomas became the first Spartan to lead the team in points, rebounds, and assists in the same game since Joe Bryant Jr. achieved the feat on Jan. 28, 2023 against South Carolina State 

 
UP NEXT
 
NSU now returns from New York to play its lone home game of December, squaring off against Southern Virginia at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at Echols Hall.
 
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