WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Fresh off a statement victory over James Madison, the Norfolk State men's basketball team looks to keep its undefeated record intact this week with another in-state battle on the horizon.
The Spartans (3-0) hit the road for the first time this season on Tuesday, facing William & Mary (1-1) at 7 p.m. at Kaplan Arena. NSU looks for its fourth consecutive win against the Tribe.
Norfolk State dominated the second half of an 83-69 victory over JMU on Saturday at Echols Hall, outscoring the Dukes 56-31 in the second period. The win marked Norfolk State's third straight against JMU, and the first time JMU stepped foot in Echols Hall.
NSU graduate student
Christian Ings carried the Spartans offensively early on, scoring 17 first half points.
Brian Moore Jr. caught fire from there, adding all 17 of his points in the second half as the Spartans pulled away.
Earning the head coaching job at William & Mary this spring, Brian Earl enters his first campaign with the Tribe in 2024-25. Prior to his time in Williamsburg, Earl spent the last seven seasons as the head coach at Cornell, leading the Big Red to its first-ever NIT bid last year.
William & Mary opened the season with an 84-36 win over Dickinson, led by 16 points from senior guard Gabe Dorsey. The Tribe could not keep the momentum going on Friday, though, falling 89-77 at Radford.
Tuesday's game will air on FloSports, available with a paid subscription. WNSB 91.1 FM will also provide radio coverage, with Ross Gordon and Woube Gebre on the call.
LAST TIME OUT
- Norfolk State dominated the second half of an 83-69 victory over JMU on Saturday
- Christian Ings led the Spartans with 22 points, scoring 17 in the first half
- Brian Moore Jr. contributed all 17 of his points in the second half
- Kuluel Mading added nine points and six rebounds, knocking down all three of his shot attempts
- JMU attempted 42 3-pointers, shooting 31.0 percent from behind the arc (13-of-42)
- Norfolk State shot 16-of-21 (76.2 percent) in the second half, holding JMU to a 35.3 percent clip in that period (12-of-34)
SERIES HISTORY
- NSU leads the all-time series with William and Mary, 3-2
- The Spartans have won the last three matchups against the Tribe, all in the last three seasons
- William & Mary's last win against Norfolk State came on Nov. 19, 2008
- Norfolk State cruised past the Tribe, 96-62, in the last meeting between the schools on Nov. 28, 2024. Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans with 23 points and nine assists, while Ings added 15 points off the bench
- Ings enjoyed the strongest scoring performance of his career against the Tribe during the 2021-22 season, totaling 31 points on a 12-of-15 shooting night
TRIBE SCOUT
- William & Mary enters Monday's matchup with a 1-1 record
- The Tribe opened the season with an 84-36 win over Dickinson, before falling 89-77 at Radford
- Noah Collier scored 15 points against Radford, shooting 9-of-10 from the free throw line
- William & Mary is led by head coach Brian Earl, entering his first season with the Tribe after spending seven years as the head coach at Cornell
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.
