NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team staved off a second-half comeback effort by the visiting Morgan State Bears on Monday evening, earning an 83-73 victory in front of an impressive crowd at Echols Hall.
 
NSU forward Tyrel Bladen led the Spartans (14-8, 4-1 MEAC) to victory with a career night, posting a collegiate-best 17 points while shooting 8-of-10 from the floor and gathering six rebounds. Allen Betrand contributed 16 points, while Jamarii Thomas tallied 14 points and five assists.
 
It did not take long for the home crowd to get fired up. Christian Ings provided the highlight of the night in the game's first minute, dropping a Morgan State defender to the ground with a killer crossover move and knocking down the ensuing jump shot for the first points of the evening.
 
Just moments later, Ings converted from behind the arc. The Spartans raced out to a 16-8 lead with back-to-back dunks from Kuluel Mading and Ings, building a double-figure advantage off Jaylani Darden's strong layup.
 
Thomas connected from deep to push Norfolk State ahead 34-22 late in the first half, before Beale knocked down a 3-pointer to end the period. The Spartans went to the break with a convincing 40-28 lead.
 
Bladen knocked down a jumper and slammed home a dunk early in the second half, but Morgan State began to claw its way back by converting off several Spartan turnovers. Rob Lawson knocked down a jumper in the paint, before Allen Udemadu cut NSU's cushion to three with an open layup.
 
The Bears pulled within two off a pair of free throws midway through the second half, as both teams fought to regain control of the ballgame. NSU freshman Chris Fields Jr. knocked down a crucial 3-pointer, before Darden and Bladen provided strong finishes to give Norfolk State a seven-point lead.
 
As Morgan State tried to stay within striking distance, Betrand and Thomas drained 3-pointers within the span of a minute to give Norfolk State a double-digit advantage, enough to hold on for the team's third consecutive victory.
 
Checking The Box Score

• Tyrel Bladen led the Spartans with a career-high 17 points, shooting 8-of-10 from the floor
• Allen Betrand recorded 16 points, while Jamarii Thomas tallied 14 points and five assists
• Wynston Tabbs led Morgan State with 21 points, shooting 6-of-12 from the floor
• Bears forward Allen Udemadu recorded a 15-point, 10-rebound double double
• Norfolk State shot 9-of-17 (52.9 percent) from behind the arc, a major bounce back from an 0-12 3-point shooting night on Saturday vs. Coppin State
• Norfolk State never trailed on Monday

 
News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 14-8 with the win, 4-1 in MEAC play
• The Spartans are tied with North Carolina Central (12-8, 4-1) for first in the conference
• Morgan State dropped to 6-15 on the season, 2-3 in conference action
• Norfolk State now leads the all-time series between the programs 46-18
• NSU never trailed during Monday's game

 
UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State closes out its three-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 3 against Delaware State at 4 p.m. The Hornets dropped to 3-2 in the MEAC with 69-66 loss to North Carolina Central on Monday.
 
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