DAVIS, Calif. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team closed its West Coast road trip on a high note, dominating the second half of a 76-55 victory over UC Davis.
 
Brian Moore Jr. led the Spartans (5-3) with 19 points, while Sin'Cere McMahon contributed 13 points off the bench on a 5-of-7 shooting night. Norfolk State shut down UC Davis (3-3) defensively as well, holding one of the nation's top scorers, TY Johnson, to 11 points while shooting 3-of-10 from the floor.
 
After Moore got the Spartans in transition, Christian Ings converted on the fast break to give Norfolk State its first lead of the game at 4-3. UC Davis knocked down a 3-pointer soon after, but Terrance Jones drained another from behind the arc to put the Spartans back in front.
 
Moore and McMahon hit shots from behind the arc as Norfolk State took a 17-13 lead. Another triple from McMahon followed by a Jaylani Darden layup gave NSU a 22-15 advantage, the Spartans' largest of the first half.
 
The 3-point battle continued as both teams traded blows form behind the arc. Ings hit a deep shot amidst two consecutive 3-ponters from UC Davis, as the home team pulled back within a point.
 
UC Davis momentarily got back in front, but McMahon made a crafty reverse layup to flip the momentum right back Norfolk State's way. NSU headed to the half with a slim 34-33 lead.
 
Moore soared high for a tip-in basket early in the second half, tying the game at 36 points apiece. The score sparked a 9-0 run as Norfolk State took control of the contest.
 
After going scoreless in the first half, Tyrel Bladen came alive in the second period. The graduate forward took advantage of opportunities in the paint, racking up 10 points including an and-one layup with under eight minutes to play.
 
McMahon knocked down multiple 3-pointers in the second half to expand the Spartan cushion, as Norfolk State began to pull away from the Aggies without looking back. Bladen found Moore for a two-handed slam, before Moore dished to Mading for another dunk a few minutes later as the gap reached 20 points.
 
McMahon, Moore, and Darden each knocked down midrange jump shots in the game's final stretch, as the Spartans cruised to a 76-55 road victory.
 
Checking The Box Score

• Brian Moore Jr. led Norfolk State with 19 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the floor
• Sin'Cere McMahon added 13 points off the bench, shooting 5-of-7 from the floor
• Jaylen Darden paced the Spartans on the glass with seven rebounds
• Norfolk State led 34-33 at halftime
• Norfolk State outrebounded UC Davis 35-28
• Connor Sevilla led UC Davis with 15 points

News & Notes

• Monday marked the first-ever meeting between the Norfolk State and Grand Canyon men's basketball programs
• Norfolk State improved to 5-3 with the win
• UC Davis dropped to 3-3 with the loss
• Norfolk State improved to 36-1 under head coach Robert Jones when five Spartans score in double figures
• TY Johnson ranked second in the nation averaging 26.8 points per game entering Monday's contest. The Spartans held Johnson to 11 points on a 3-of-10 shooting night

UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State will conclude its six-game road stretch on Sunday afternoon, facing Stony Brook at 1 p.m. back on the East Coast.
 
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