NORFOLK, Va. – Senior guard Wilson Dubinsky scored a game-high 24 points and a perfect 5-of-5 from 3-point range, but it wasn't enough as South Carolina State in a heartbreaking, 66-65, defeat to top-ranked Norfolk State in the finals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball tournament at the Norfolk Scope Arena. 

South Carolina State closed out the season at 20-13 overall, while Norfolk State improved to 24-10.  

By virtue of the victory, the Spartans receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Norfolk State will learn who they will face in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 16 during the NCAA Selection Show on CBS at 6 p.m. ET.

The two teams battled back and forth for the first 16 minutes before the Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run that was fueled by the three-point shooting of Wilson Dubinsky, who was a perfect three-for-three from beyond the arc. SC State led 34-25 at the half. 

SC State head coach Eric Martin, who was named the MEAC Regular Season Coach of the Year, had a different perspective. 

"It's a difficult loss," said Coach Martin during his post-game press conference. "In the second half, we got into foul trouble. As a result, we had to hold back or press." 

Ings and Moore, Jr. both struggled in the first half against a tough Bulldog defense. In the second half, the senior duo took turns getting key baskets and free throws to work their team back. It started at the 9:06 mark of the second stanza with Ings scoring six of his team's points and Moore, Jr. chipping in with two baskets that gave the Spartans their biggest lead of the game at 59-51 with 4:56 on the clock. 

But Dubinsky, who led all scorers with 24, refused to let his team go down. He nailed two clutch three pointers and Chad Everett scored four during a 10-5 run that cut the deficit to 64-61 with 2:01 on the clock. 

Jayden Johnson added a basket for SC State sandwiched around a free throw by Ings to make the score, 66-65 with 6.4 ticks on the clock and the Bulldogs in possession. 

The Bulldogs made their first appearance in the finals in 22 years.   

"It was great getting South Carolina State back to the finals," reflected Martin in just his second year at the helm. "We wanted to close the deal. I give credit to Norfolk State." 

Ings and Moore, Jr. combined for 14 rebounds and eight assists between them adding seven rebounds to their stat totals. 

Omar Croskey contributed 10 before fouling out. 

2025 Men's Basketball All-Tournament team 
Tournament Outstanding Player - Brian Moore, Jr., Norfolk State  
Tournament Outstanding Coach - Robert Jones, Norfolk State 
Brian Moore, Norfolk State 
Christian Ings, Norfolk State 
Wilson Dubinsky, South Carolina State 
Kameron Hobbs, Morgan State 
Will Thomas, Morgan State 

ABOUT SC STATE ATHLETICS
South Carolina State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 14 sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, softball, men's and women's outdoor track and field, women's soccer and football with all teams competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), except for women's soccer.
 
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