NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team dropped a tightly contested MEAC battle, falling 74-70 to Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday evening inside Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall in the Spartans' first home game of the 2026 calendar year.
With the loss, Norfolk State slips to 7-12 overall and 1-2 in MEAC play, while Maryland Eastern Shore improves to 7-13 overall and remains unbeaten in conference action at 3-0.
Elijah Jamison led the Spartans with 15 points on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting performance, including a perfect 6-of-6 mark at the free throw line. He added six assists and three rebounds. Keyontae Lewis was the lone other Spartan in double figures, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while contributing five rebounds and three steals.
Norfolk State opened the scoring on a pair of free throws from Lewis before UMES responded with a deep three-pointer from Jaden Cooper to take an early 3-2 advantage. The two teams traded leads over the next several possessions until the Hawks used baskets from Dorian Staples and Michael Teal to pull ahead 11-6.
The Spartans answered with a 5-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Jamison and a layup by Devon Ellis, to even the score at 11. UMES briefly regained the lead at 18-15, but Norfolk State responded with another 5-0 run to take a 20-18 edge following a free throw from Ellis and four points from Melo Baines.
Maryland Eastern Shore then mounted a 12-4 surge to take a six-point lead, 30-24, with 3:35 remaining in the first half. Norfolk State closed the half strong, outscoring the Hawks 7-2 to cut the deficit to one, 32-31, at the break. Lewis scored six points during the closing run, while Anthony McComb III added a free throw.
UMES maintained a slim advantage through the opening minutes of the second half before a three-pointer from Jordan Leaks and a layup by Lewis gave the Spartans a 37-36 lead. After another brief exchange of leads, Norfolk State built a four-point cushion at 43-39 on jumpers from Jaquel Morris and McComb.
The Hawks battled back to knot the score at 44, setting up a back-and-forth contest down the stretch. Norfolk State appeared to gain control with a 16-9 run, pushing its lead to seven, 60-53, with 5:37 remaining.
Maryland Eastern Shore responded with a decisive 21-10 run to close the game, reclaiming the lead on a Michael Teal layup with 21 seconds remaining before sealing the victory at the free throw line.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Elijah Jamison: 15 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds
- FG%: NSU 45.8%, UMES 40.8%
- Bench Points: NSU 34, UMES 29
- Points in the Paint: NSU 32, UMES 26
- Second Chance Points: NSU 20, UMES 9
STORYLINES
- The last time the Spartans started the conference schedule 1-2 was during the 2017-18 season.
- The last season season the Spartans lost two games at home was during the 2022-23 season.
UP NEXT
The Spartans return to action on Saturday, January 17, when they travel to Orangeburg, S.C., to face the Bulldogs of South Carolina State in a rematch of the 2025 MEAC Basketball Tournament Championship game. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m.
