Box Score NORFOLK, Va. – Junior guard Eric Eaves tossed in a game-high 21 points, while teammate senior forward/center Darryl Palmer recorded his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as SC State dropped an 87-74 decision to Norfolk State Saturday (Jan.23) at Echols Hall.
 
"It was a tough loss to a very talented Norfolk State basketball team.  I have said it all year we can't come into games and expect to beat good teams when we turn the ball over and they score off of our mistakes," said SC State head coach Murray Garvin
 
Garvin stated, "With that being said we was able to get their lead down to  nine (9)points with 5:00 minutes remaining but just couldn't complete the comeback."
 
South Carolina falls to 10-11 overall, 5-2 in the MEAC, while Norfolk State improves to 9-12 overall, 5-1 in the league. The Spartans moved into 2^nd place in the MEAC standings.
 
NSU was led by Charles Oliver with 19 points, and Zaynah Robinson and D'Shon Taylor each added 13 in the win.
 
Oliver went 6 of 12 from the 3-point line, tying his career-high for makes. Alex Long, Preston Bungei and Jonathan Wade added 10 apiece for Norfolk State (9-12, 5-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), which has won three in a row and four of five.
 
Eric Eaves made layups on back-to-back possessions for South Carolina State to pull the Bulldogs within three with 9:57 left in the first half. Norfolk State led by as many as 16, 51-35 during intermission.
 
During the opening of the second-half the Spartans built a commanding 21-point advantage at the 15:29 mark. But South Carolina State erupted for 14 points in the next three minutes, and the Spartans weren't seriously challenged a gain.
 
Costly turnovers seemed to be the deciding factor down the stretch, as Norfolk forced 17 turnovers, while converting them into 30 points.

SC State finished at the top in several categories  in the loss including three-point field goal (7-of-17-SC State),Points in the paint(SCSU 36, Norfolk State 30), points in the paint (SC State 55, Norfolk State 42); and rebounds (SC State 36, Norfolk State 30).

Eaves performance tonight was the ninth time this season he's scored at least 20 points or more.

"In conference games you can't let one loss turn into two losses. We have to get back to the hotel and regroup for top-ranked Hampton on Monday night, said Garvin."
 
Other Bulldogs making contributions were senior forward Gabriel McCray and junior guard Greg Mortimer each had nine (9) points.

South Carolina State returns to action on Monday (Jan. 25) when they face conference leader the Hampton Pirates in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown. Tipoff is 7 p.m., immediately following the women's contest in a 5 p.m. start.