UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team (7-6) started off the Chris Paul HBCU Classic in perfect fashion, dominating wire-to-wire in a 71-54 victory over Alabama State (4-7) on Thursday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.
 
Leading the Spartans with 15 points while grabbing seven rebounds, Brian Moore Jr. earned Most Valuable Player honors for the game. Jalen Myers added 11 points and eight rebounds.
 
Norfolk State set a commanding tone right out of the gate, scoring the game's first six points. Myers recorded the Spartans' first two baskets, both on hustle plays after securing an offensive rebound.
 
Moore knocked down a pair of jumpers, before Jaylani Darden drained a 3-pointer. The hot start forced an Alabama State timeout with the Hornets trailing 11-2.
 
Tyrel Bladen soared to the rim for an alley oop slam from Darden's pass, but Alabama State responded with a 3-pointer at the other end. Chris Fields Jr. got the momentum back in Norfolk State's favor, taking a defensive rebound coast-to-coast for a two-handed dunk.
 
Mading registered two inside scores from there, giving Norfolk State a 24-9 lead. The gap reached 20 points late in the first half as NSU continued to take advantage of trips to the free throw line.
 
Freshman Melo Baines got in on the action with a tip-in basket, getting the Spartan bench on its feet. Myers logged a quick steal within seconds of the play, setting up a wide-open Moore lay-in at the other end.
 
Norfolk State went to the break ahead 44-21, the team's largest halftime lead against a Division I opponent this season.
 
Norfolk State missed a few shots and turned the ball over once to start the second half, but Moore got the Spartans back on track with a mid-range jumper. Terrance Jones pulled up for a cold stepback just inside the arc, before Christian Ings drew a foul behind the arc and made all ensuing three free throws.
 
Fields kept his fastbreak speed going, producing another dunk after a steal from Moore. Myers gave an extra pass to Kuluel Mading in the paint a few minutes later, resulting in a thunderous slam.
 
As the Spartans put the closing touches on a dominant night, Sin'Cere McMahon provided the icing on the cake with a contested 3-pointer in the game's final minute.
 
 
Checking The Box Score

• Brian Moore Jr. led Norfolk State with 15 points, shooting 7-of-14 from the floor and grabbing seven rebounds
• Christian Ings and Jalen Myers added 11 points each, with the latter securing a team-best eight rebounds
• Chris Fields Jr. scored six points, including two fastbreak dunks
• Norfolk State outrebounded the Hornets 41-32
• Alabama State shot 3-of-26 (11.5 percent)
• Norfolk State never trailed, holding the lead for 39 minutes and eight seconds

 
News & Notes

• Sunday marked the first-ever meeting between the Norfolk State and Northern Kentucky men's basketball programs
• Norfolk State improved to 7-6 with the win
• Alabama State dropped to 4-7 with the loss
• Dating back to the 2021-22 season, Norfolk State is now 5-0 in Chris Paul HBCU Classic events
• Brian Moore Jr. was named the game's Most Valuable Player

 
UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State concludes its time at the Chris Paul HBCU Classic on Thursday afternoon, facing Grambling State at 4 p.m.
 
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