NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team had a chance for vengeance on Monday night in front of a national audience, and the Spartans did not disappoint.
 
Jamarii Thomas led the home team with 28 points at Echols Hall, pushing Norfolk State to a 80-74 victory over North Carolina Central on ESPNU.
 
Thomas attacked the rim relentlessly, setting career highs in free throws attempted (19) and free throws made (16). He became just the second player in the program's Division I era to make 16 shots from the foul line in a single line, tying the mark set by Joe Bryant Jr. vs. Tennessee State in 2021.
 
Allen Betrand scored 16 points off the bench for the Spartans, while Kuluel Mading contributed 13 points as well. Thomas led the Spartans on the glass in addition to the scoreboard, corralling six rebounds.
 
Norfolk State had to play from behind for the entire first half, going down 7-0 in the first few minutes of action. A tough jumper from Christian Ings, followed by a two-handed dunk by Tyrel Bladen from Ings' pass helped the Spartans get back on their feet.
 
Eagles guard Josh Smith knocked down a 3-pointer, giving North Carolina Central a 24-15 advantage late in the first half. Thomas stopped the swing with an and-one finish, but a NCCU dunk brought the gap back to nine.
 
Tyrese Jenkins drained a crucial 3-pointer, followed by a string of free throws late in the half by Thomas. The burst helped NSU cut the deficit to four going into the break.
 
The Spartans brought an increased energy into the second half, scoring the first seven points of the period, capped off by another and-one from Thomas.
 
Back-to-back Eagle 3-pointers continued the battle, but Thomas responded with a step-back triple on the offensive end of the floor. Thomas' second 3-pointer of the night a few minutes later tied the game once again.
 
Po'Boigh King drained another 3-pointer for NCCU, but Betrand scored through a foul to pull Norfolk State back within one. The Spartans gained control of the game with a 7-0 run, sparked by a Jenkins 3-pointer.
 
With Norfolk State ahead 67-64 and under five minutes remaining, Jack Doumbia made the play of the night. The junior forward soared through the air to reject an Eagle jump shot, grabbing his own rebound and finishing at the other end with a thunderous dunk.
 
 
Thomas found Mading for an alley-oop dunk on the Spartans' next possession, but North Carolina Central stormed back with multiple 3-pointers to tie the game in the final minute.
 
For the third consecutive game at Echols Hall, Norfolk State produced a go-ahead basket in the last minute of play. Mading made the shot this time around, scoring a second-chance layup to push the Spartans ahead.
 
Norfolk State got a stop right after, forcing a North Carolina Central turnover. Thomas finished off the game from there, draining four free throws as the Spartans increased their lead atop the MEAC standings.
 
Checking The Box Score

• Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans with 28 points, shooting 16-of-19 from the free throw line
• Allen Betrand contributed 16 points and Kuluel Mading tallied 13
• Thomas also led the Spartans on the glass, corralling six rebounds
• Norfolk State shot 24-of-50 (48.0 percent) from the floor, 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) from 3-point line
• Monday's game featured six ties and three lead changes

 
News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 17-9 with the win, 7-2 in MEAC play
• NCCU dropped to 13-10 on the season, 5-4 in conference action
• Norfolk State now holds a two-game lead in the MEAC standings. Four teams (NCCU, DSU, HU, and SCSU) are tied for second place
• Monday's game was broadcast on ESPNU

 
UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State heads to Baltimore, Md. Next weekend for a pair of road matchups at Coppin State and Morgan State.
 
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.