Leading the way for Norfolk State was junior center Kyle O' Quinn with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Chris McEachin added 12 in the loss. Senior
Rio Pitt grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, while junior forward
Presano Bell had 11 point and nine rebounds.
SC State improved to 8-19 overall, 4-10 in the MEAC, while Norfolk State dropped to 8-18 and 6-7 in the league.
SC State jumped out to an early 12 point lead, 20-8 off a free-throw by
Presano Bell at the 10:43 mark. Marcos Tamares cut the lead to three, 24-21 sinking a pair of free-throws with 4:09 left in the first-half. Porter's 3-pointer increased the lead to seven, 31-24 with 2:45 left.
A tip-in by O'Quinn followed by a free-throw by senior guard Rob Hampton pulled the Spartans within three, 31-28 to close out the first-half. SC State out-rebounded Norfolk State 22-17 in the first-half.
A dunk senior forward Tim Zephyr put the Spartans ahead four, 31-35 at the17:37 mark. A tip-in in by junior forward
Joe Ikhinmwin put the Bulldogs ahead three, 46-43 with 9:06 left in regulation. Senior Aleek Pauline cut SC State's lead to one, 58-57 by sinking a pair of free-throws with 1:07 left.
A pair of free-throws by
Brandon Riley followed by a block shot by senior center
Rio Pitt sealed the 64-62 victory for SC State.
South Carolina State will return to action on Saturday when they travel to the sunshine state to take on Bethune-Cookman in a pivotal MEAC doubleheader. The women tip-off at 2 p.m. with the men beginning at 4 p.m.
--30--
