NORFOK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team shot 51.6 percent from the floor on Monday night, using a terrific offensive showing to overpower Morgan State 85-82 at Hill Field House.
 
Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans (19-9, 9-2 MEAC) with 20 points for the evening, recording team highs of five rebounds and four assists as well. Christian Ings scored a season-best 17 points, going 7-of-7 at the free throw line.
 
The Spartans came up with a steal on the game's opening possession, taking it the other way for a two-handed slam from Thomas to set the tone immediately. Making the first start of his collegiate career, Fields made quick with two quick layups, one through contact for an and-one.
 
After getting an acrobatic lay-in to fall a few minutes prior, Tyrese Jenkins came up with a steal in opposing territory, finishing the dunk to force a Morgan State timeout.
 
The Bears continued to find offensive success, though, taking an 18-13 lead with another inside score. Allen Betrand found Jamarii Thomas for a 3-pointer to stop the run, before the former drained a triple of his own to retake the lead.
 
Betrand knocked down another three on the next possession off a spectacular step-back dribble move. The barrage from deep kept going, as Christian Ings drilled one while falling back late in the first half.
 
Norfolk State held a 50-48 lead at halftime, far and away its largest combined score at the midway point of any game this season.
 
The thrilling showcase continued into the second half, neither team able to emerge with any sort of comfortable gap.
 
As the game entered its final minutes, each basket felt even more significant than the ones preceding it.
 
Jack Doumbia gave the Spartans the lead with under five minutes remaining on a strong take to the cup. Thomas followed up with one similar soon after, getting the shot to fall softly off the glass, despite a foul.
 
The points put Norfolk State ahead by four, before Tyrel Bladen scored in the paint from a great pass by Fields with under 100 seconds to play. Morgan State had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer with a desperation 3-pointer, but it didn't fall as the Spartans earned their fourth consecutive win.
 
Checking The Box Score

• Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans with 20 points for the evening, recording team highs of five rebounds and four assists as well
• Christian Ings scored a season-best 17 points, going 7-of-7 at the free throw line.
• Allen Betrand contributed 18, scoring 15 in the first half
• Norfolk State shot 32-of-62 (51.6 percent) from the floor and 7-of-20 (35.0 percent) from behind the arc
• Morgan State shot 26-of-27 from the free throw line (96.3 percent)

 
News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 19-9 with the win, 9-2 in MEAC play
• The Spartans remain two games ahead of North Carolina Central, Howard, and South Carolina State in the MEAC standings, all three in a tie for second
• Morgan State dropped to 9-18 on the season, 5-6 in conference action
• Norfolk State now leads the all-time series between the programs 48-18

 
UP NEXT
 
The Spartans hit the road once more to face Delaware State on Saturday, Mar. 2 at 4 p.m. It will be the team's final regular season game away from home.
 
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