Box Score ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State built a seven-point lead with under five minutes to play but couldn't hold on as visiting Norfolk State outscored the Bulldogs 12-2 the rest of the way to pull out a hard-fought 65-62 victory Saturday.

Orangeburg native Tashombe Riley's short jumper in the lane with 4:34 on the clock gave Coach Murray Garvin's Bulldogs a 60-53 advantage but SC State only got two free throws from Damani Applewhite with 1:50 down the stretch as the Spartans rallied for the win.

Zaynah Robinson, who had 23 points to lead all scorers, started the Norfolk State comeback with a three-point play to close the gap to 60-56 with four minutes on the clock. After an SC State turnover, it was Robinson again, getting two free throws at the 2:47 mark to cut the lead to 60-58.

Dan Robinson tied it on a short jumper with 2:07 showing, before Applewhite's free throws helped SC State regain the lead at 62-60, but those points would be the final ones for the Bulldogs as Jon Wade got one of two from the line and Dan Robinson a tip-in with 20.8 left for a 63-62 Norfolk lead.

The Bulldogs appeared to have the go-ahead basket with 2.5 ticks on the clock when Riley grabbed what appeared to be an air ball by teammate Ed Stephens and slammed it home, but the official called basket interference and the basket was disallowed, giving the Spartans possession. Following an SC State foul on the inbounds, Wade made two free throws for the final margin.

"It was just the kind of game I expected," said SC State's Murray after the loss. "I knew it would be close, a one-possession type game. Norfolk State made the plays down the stretch and we didn't. It's a very tough loss. We've had two or three of these, when we let the game get away in the final two minutes."

"I hope we will learn from this, however, we need to learn quickly because we have to get ready for Hampton on Monday. We had several opportunities to put the game away. We were up by four and turned it over twice and missed a wide-opened three (attempt) on another possession."

The loss was the third by four points or less in five home games for the Bulldogs, who dipped to 7-15 and 4-5 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Eric Eaves had 16 points and Riley and reserve JJ Richardson 11 each for SC State in the loss. Riley pulled down a team-high seven boards for the Bulldogs who lost the rebounding battle to the Spartans 30-35.

Following Zaynah Robinson in scoring for the Spartans was Wade with 19 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Twelve of his points came from the line as he was 12-14 from the charity stripe. The Spartans improved to 10-13 and 7-2 in the MEAC.

SC State led 37-30 at the half as Eaves scored all but two of his 16 points in the opening stanza and Greg Mortimer, all seven of his points in the period.

The Spartans began the second half with a 12-4 run to take a 42-41 lead on Zaynah Robinson's runner with 14:29 to play.

The Bulldogs scored six consecutive points on a Riley jumper and a dunk and runner by Richardson to go ahead 47-42 with 13:13 on the shot, then used a 9-7 spree to match their biggest lead of the contest – seven points – when Riley got inside for a basket at the 8:58 mark.

But the Bulldogs were unable to maintain their edge as the Spartans fought back – fueled by SC State turnovers – to earn the win.

SC State returns to the court on Monday when they host Hampton in the second game of a league doubleheader, beginning with the women's game at 5:30. In an earlier meeting in Hampton, SC State edge he Pirates 68-66 on Riley's follow dunk in the final seconds.