NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team earned a gritty 75-68 home victory over North Carolina Central on Saturday afternoon inside Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall. With the win, the Spartans improved to 11-14 overall and evened their MEAC record at 4-4, while the Eagles fell to 8-13 overall and 4-2 in conference play. 

Elijah Jamison led all scorers with 28 points on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-4 from three-point range and 9-of-10 at the free throw line. Jamison also added two rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Anthony McComb III and My'kel Jenkins each contributed eight points for the Spartans. 

The game opened at a deliberate pace, with Norfolk State holding a slim 6-4 advantage at the first media timeout. Over the next four minutes, baskets from Jamison and Jenkins helped the Spartans extend the lead to 10-7 at the 11:57 mark while limiting North Carolina Central to just three points. 

A three-pointer from Devon Ellis pushed NSU's lead to six, 17-11, with 8:59 remaining in the first half, but the Eagles responded with a 14-4 run over the next three and a half minutes to take a 25-21 lead at the 5:29 mark. 

Norfolk State answered back, tying the game at 25 on a layup by Ellis. After the score was knotted twice more, McComb III knocked down a key three-pointer to give the Spartans a 32-29 edge. That margin grew to five, 34-29, with 1:30 left before halftime, and NSU carried a 36-31 lead into the break. 

The Spartans opened the second half on a 9-6 run to take a 45-37 advantage at the first media timeout. North Carolina Central countered with a 12-3 surge to regain the lead at 49-48, prompting a Norfolk State timeout. NSU responded by tightening defensively and finding its rhythm offensively, reclaiming the lead and building a five-point cushion, 58-53, with just over five minutes remaining. 

Back-to-back three-pointers from Jenkins and Jamison helped the Spartans maintain control, extending the lead to 64-59. Jamison followed with a layup and a deep three to make it 69-60, giving NSU its largest lead of the game. 

The Eagles trimmed the deficit to as few as five points, 73-68, late in regulation, but Norfolk State closed strong at the free throw line to secure the 75-68 victory and split the season series. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• FINAL: Norfolk State 75, North Carolina Central 68 
• Elijah Jamison: 28 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field, 3-of-4 from 3-point range and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. He added two rebounds, three assists and one steal. 
• TEAM STATS   
  • Field Goal Percentage: NSU 48.0% | NCCU 47.3% 
  • Rebounds: NSU 33 | NCCU 23 
  • Blocks: NSU 7 | NCCU 1 
  • Free Throws: NSU 21-of-27 | NCCU 11-of-14 
  • Bench Points: NSU 49 | NCCU 24 
  • Points in the Paint: NSU 34 | NCCU 26 

SPARTAN NEWS & NOTES

• Head Coach Robert Jones is three wins away from earning his 250th career coaching victory. 
• Elijah Jamison is 16 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point milestone for his career. 
• Norfolk State and North Carolina Central split the season series at 1–1 with six regular-season games remaining before the MEAC Tournament. 

UP NEXT

Norfolk State returns to the court on Saturday, Feb. 14, hosting Delaware State for Alumni Day inside Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall.