NORFOLK, Va. – The No. 1 seed Norfolk State men's basketball team used a fiery second half to cruise past No. 8 seed Coppin State in the MEAC Tournament Quarterfinals, leaving the Norfolk Scope with a 75-51 victory.
 
Christian Ings led the Spartans (22-10, 11-3 MEAC) with 17 points, knocking down a career high four 3-pointers. Kuluel Mading put together a terrific performance on both ends of the floor, recording 12 points on a 6-of-8 shooting day, along with nine rebounds and four blocks.
 
Norfolk State started the game with a burst of energy, opening the night on a 7-0 run. Jamarii Thomas drilled his first 3-point attempt, before Mading finished at the rim for two more points.
 
Coppin State put together a 13-1 swing from there, scoring plenty of points in the paint. Ings brought the Spartans back ahead almost single-handedly, knocking down a three-pointer, then another for a four-point play on the next trip down the floor.
 
The Spartans continued to get strong play from their big men. Mading and Jack Doumbia both contributed multiple baskets in the final minutes of the first half, the latter stuffing down a two-handed dunk on the fastbreak after a Jamarii Thomas steal.
 
Norfolk State went to the halftime holding a 31-25 advantage, with 11 points from Ings and six from Doumbia.
 
The Spartans began the second half with the swagger of the No. 1 seed they'd earned, scoring the first seven points of the period. Ings remained a lethal weapon on the offensive end, knocking down two 3-pointers in a matter of minutes.
 
Allen Betrand, the league's inaugural recipient of the MEAC Sixth Player of the Year award, drained a 3-pointer, before Darden scored through a foul to push Norfolk State ahead 49-30.
 
The gap went past 20 points when Chris Fields Jr. converted a layup on the fast break, before the midway point in the second half. Betrand began to heat up from there, hitting a turnaround jumper before following his own miss for another basket moments later.
 
Fields got in on the dunk party, finishing off a crafty pass from Ings. The MEAC All-Rookie Team selection knocked down a stepback jumper from mid-range to give Norfolk State a 67-40 lead.
 
In the final minute of the victory, Gilbert Brown came off the bench and immediately came up with a steal. He followed up a Spartan miss for a second chance basket, the first postseason points of his career.
 
Checking The Box Score

• Christian Ings tied a season-high of 17 points, knocking down four 3-pointers
• Kuluel Mading recorded 12 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and two assists
• Jack Doumbia tallied 14 points, making all eight of his free throw attempts
• Jaylani Darden recorded four steals
• Norfolk State outscored Coppin State 44-26 in the second half
• The Spartans shot 24-of-51 (47.1 percent) from the floor, holding the Eagles to a 38.3 percent clip (18-of-47)

News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 22-10 with the win, advancing to the MEAC Tournament Semifinals
• The Spartans will play their next matchup on Friday at 6 p.m., facing the winner of Thursday's Howard-Morgan State showdown
• Coppin State dropped to 2-27 with the loss
• Norfolk State now leads the all-time series between the programs 42-14
• Christian Ings knocked down a career-high four 3-pointers, tying his season high of 17 points 

UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State will play in the MEAC Tournament Semifinals on Friday, Mar. 15 at 6 p.m. The Spartans will face the winner of Thursday's matchup between Howard and Morgan State.
 
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