DURHAM, N.C. — The Norfolk State men's basketball team opened Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play with a narrow 69-67 road loss to North Carolina Central on Saturday afternoon at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
With the result, Norfolk State moves to 6-11 overall and 0-1 in MEAC action, while the Eagles improve to 5-11 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.
The Spartans were led by Devon Ellis, who recorded a team-high 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting while adding eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal. Elijah Jamison finished with 15 points, while Anthony McComb III chipped in 11 to give Norfolk State three players in double figures.
Norfolk State came out strong, opening the contest on a 7-2 run in the first two-and-a-half minutes behind back-to-back layups from Ellis and a corner three-pointer by McComb. North Carolina Central responded with consecutive baskets to pull within one, 7-6, igniting a back-and-forth battle that featured three ties early in the half. A dunk by NCCU's Khouri Carvey gave the Eagles a 20-19 edge with 10:26 remaining, and the hosts maintained the lead for the remainder of the period.
The Eagles stretched their advantage to eight points, 29-21, following a 9-2 run, but the Spartans answered with a 10-4 spurt of their own, capped by a dunk from My'kel Jenkins to trim the deficit to four, 33-29, heading into the under-four media timeout. North Carolina Central closed the half on a 5-2 run to take a 38-31 lead into the break.
Coming out of halftime, the Eagles pushed the margin to nine, 42-33, before Norfolk State responded with a 9-3 run. Ellis capped the spurt with a three-pointer to cut the lead to four, 45-41, at the under-16 media timeout. North Carolina Central answered once again with a 9-3 run to regain a nine-point advantage, 53-44, with 11:12 remaining.
Norfolk State continued to chip away over the next several minutes. A deep three by Jamison pulled the Spartans within three, 57-54, before he followed with a fast-break layup off a steal to make it a one-point game with seven minutes remaining.
The teams traded baskets down the stretch, with NCCU holding a four-point lead, 68-64, in the final minute. Jamison knocked down a clutch three-pointer with 30 seconds left to pull Norfolk State within one. The Spartans fouled to stop the clock, sending Dionte Johnson to the free-throw line, where he converted one of two attempts to seal the 69-67 final score.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Final Score: North Carolina Central 69, Norfolk State 67
- Team Shooting:
- 40.3% FG (25-of-62)
- 23.5% 3FG (4-of-17)
- 65.0% FT (13-of-20)
- Points in the Paint: Norfolk State 42, North Carolina Central 38
UP NEXT
Norfolk State returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 10, when the Spartans conclude their 48-day, 10-game road stretch with a trip to Dover, Del., to face Delaware State. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Alumni Gymnasium.
