EL PASO, Texas – Norfolk State and UTEP put on a show on Wednesday night for the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, as the Miners pulled out a 67-65 victory in a back-and-forth clash that featured 11 ties and 14 lead changes.
 
Allen Betrand led the Spartans with 16 points, while Jamarii Thomas contributed 13 points and four steals. Jack Doumbia also scored in double-figures with a season-high 10 points.
 
Norfolk State started the game frozen cold offensively, going nearly six minutes without a score to open the night. UTEP used that stretch to build an 8-0 advantage, eventually building a double-digit lead at 11-1.
 
Betrand checked into the ball game and immediately boosted NSU's offensive production with a 3-pointer and mid-range jumper. The points not only cut the deficit in half, but also surpassed 1,000 points for Betrand's career.
 
The Spartans converted on several trips to the free throw line, quickly making up more and more ground. NSU pulled within one point thanks to a 3-pointer from Daryl Anderson, over the outstretched arms of a UTEP defender.
 
A steal-and-score by Jamarii Thomas gave the Spartans their first lead of the evening, but UTEP regained advantage soon after. Betrand drained another shot from behind the arc on Norfolk State's next trip down the floor, though, continuing the seesaw battle.
 
After UTEP tied the game 23-23 off a pair of free throws, Thomas found Kuluel Mading for a rim-rocking alley oop slam, quieting the UTEP crowd. Mading knocked down a free throw to push the lead to three, but the Miners knocked down a 3-pointer at the other end to even the game at 26-26.
 
It was Doumbia's turn to make an impact off the NSU bench. Upon subbing into the game, Doumbia scored a pair of baskets for an immediate boost. The Miners scored the final four points of the period, heading into the halftime break all tied up at 30-30.
 
Corey Camper Jr. knocked down a 3-pointer for the Miners to open the second half, but Tyrel Bladen and Jaylani Darden finished in the paint to regain the lead for NSU. After a Thomas jumper put the Spartans ahead by three, UTEP went on a 7-0 run to gain control on the scoreboard.
 
Nyzaiah Chambers tipped-in a Spartan miss to tie things back up, but Tae Hardy drained an open 3-pointer at the other end in response for the Miners. The back-and-forth showdown continued.
 
UTEP earned a two-possession advantage midway through the second half, but a 5-0 run gave the lead back to the Spartans, capped off by a stepback 3-pointer from Thomas.
 
The teams traded baskets the next few minutes, neither team letting its guard down for a moment.
 
Doumbia came up with a steal and score, then made a jumper a couple of minutes later to give Norfolk State a two-point advantage. Otis Frazier gave the Miners their final advantage of the night, though, with a second-chance basket.
 
The Spartans pulled within one at multiple points in the final two minutes but couldn't get a game-tying shot attempt off. The Miners pulled down a rebound in the closing seconds to escape with a victory.
 
Checking The Box Score

• Allen Betrand led the Spartans with 16 points, while Jamarii Thomas (13), and Jack Doumbia (10) also scored in double-figures
• Thomas also recorded four steals
• The Spartans shot 4-of-10 (40.0 percent) from behind the arc, while UTEP shot 4-of-15 (26.7 percent)
• Norfolk State shot 23-of-32 (71.9 percent) at the free throw line, while UTEP shot 27-of-37 (73.0 percent)
• The teams were tied 30-30 at halftime
• Wednesday's game featured 11 ties and 14 lead changes

News & Notes

• Norfolk State dropped to 8-6 with the loss
• UTEP improved to 7-5 with the win
• Norfolk State and UTEP are now tied in the all-time series 2-2
• With a stepback 3-pointer in the first half, Allen Betrand surpassed 1,000 career points
• Norfolk State attempted just 10 3-pointers, its lowest single-game total since taking six against Hampton on Nov. 28, 2021
• The Spartans are 0-6 this season when shooting a lower free throw percentage than their opponent

 
UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State returns right back to the Don Haskins Center on Thursday evening, facing South Dakota State at 5 p.m. MST (7 p.m. EST).
 
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