NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State men's basketball head coach Robert Jones continues to fill up his trophy case.
 
For the fourth time in his decorated career at NSU, Jones clinched a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Regular Season title on Monday night, defeating Maryland Eastern Shore 69-50 at Echols Hall.
 
Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans with 21 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Jaylani Darden contributed 15 points and six rebounds, while Allen Betrand poured in 11 points off the bench.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore held a slight edge early in the evening. Darden gave the Spartans a quick advantage with a pair of jumpers, but the Hawks took back momentum from an and-one dunk by Kelechi Okworogwo.
 
Dionte Johnson knocked down a 3-pointer soon after to push UMES ahead by six, but Kuluel Mading responding with a triple at the other end. Norfolk State retook the lead a few minutes later after scoring on back-to-back Jack Doumbia steals, the junior forward dunking one himself and Thomas hitting a jumper after the other.
 
The Spartans took a two-point advantage into the second half and kept the energy going. NSU started the second period with a 9-0 run, capped by a thunderous slam by Mading from Darden's crafty pass.
 
A 3-pointer from Betrand gave Norfolk State a 14-point lead, before Thomas knocked one down on the team's next offensive possession. Betrand scored a jumper with a foul soon after, as NSU took a 55-37 advantage.
 
Darden, Thomas, and Betrand each knocked down triples in the final minutes, before the confetti poured and the Spartans cut down the nets.
 
Checking The Box Score

• Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans with 21 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the free throw line
• Jaylani Darden contributed 15 points and six rebounds, while Allen Betrand poured in 11 points off the bench
• The Spartans shot 25-of-56 (44.6 percent) from the floor and 7-of-20 (35.0 percent) from behind the arc
• Monday's game featured five ties and four lead changes

News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 20-10 with the win, 10-3 in MEAC play
• The Spartans clinched at least a share of the MEAC regular season title with the victory, holding a one-game lead over Howard and South Carolina State with one matchup remaining on the schedule
• The win also gave Norfolk State its third consecutive 20+ win season, the first stretch in the program's Division I history with three straight 20+ win seasons.
• UMES dropped to 8-19 on the season, 3-10 in conference action
• Norfolk State now leads the all-time series between the programs 52-18

 
UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State closes out the regular season with a nationally televised showdown against Howard at Joseph G. Echols Hall. Tip-off is slated for 9 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 7 on ESPNU.
 
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