EL PASO, Texas – The Norfolk State Spartans opened play at the 64th Annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational with a thrilling 72-71 victory over the Miners of the University of Texas at El Paso on Sunday evening. Norfolk State improved to 6-8 on the season, while UTEP dropped to 3-7. 

Anthony McComb III led the Spartans with 21 points and five rebounds, adding one assist and one steal in the win. 

Norfolk State opened the game with back-to-back baskets from Jaquel Morris and Elijah Jamison to take an early 4-0 lead. UTEP responded with a 6-0 run to move in front before the Spartans tied the game at 6-all, setting the stage for a back-and-forth opening stretch. A three-pointer by Caleb Blackwell sparked a 7-0 Miner run, giving UTEP a 21-15 advantage with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half. 

The Spartans steadily chipped away at the deficit, tying the score at 25 apiece on a free throw by McComb with 4:45 left in the half. McComb followed with three more free throws to put NSU ahead 28-25 before UTEP answered with a three-pointer from Kaseem Watson to even the score again at 28-all. 

Norfolk State closed the half strong, using a 14-4 run over the final three minutes to take a 42-32 lead into the break. McComb scored four points during the surge, while Jordan Leaks and My'kel Jenkins each connected from beyond the arc. 

The Spartans maintained a double-digit cushion through the opening six minutes of the second half, holding a 53-43 lead with 14:38 remaining. UTEP swung the momentum with a 15-7 run over the next seven minutes, trimming the deficit to just two, 60-58, at the under-eight media timeout. 

Norfolk State briefly regained control, pushing the lead to 66-60 following a three-point play by Morris and a timely three-pointer from Devon Ellis. The Miners battled back once more, tying the game at 68-all with 66 seconds remaining. 

Jamison and McComb combined to knock down four free throws down the stretch, giving NSU a 72-68 edge. Watson answered with a late three-pointer to pull UTEP within one, but Norfolk State held on as time expired to secure the one-point victory. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Final Score: Norfolk State 72. UTEP 71  
• Anthony McComb III: 21 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal  
• Elijah Jamison added 12 points with one rebound and one assist 
• Norfolk State shot 45.1 percent from the field (23-of-51), 35.0 percent from three-point range (7-of-20), and 63.3 percent from the free throw line (19-of-30).   
• NSU's bench outscored UTEP's bench, 21-10 
• There were six ties and four lead changes in the game 

NEWS & NOTES  

• Norfolk State improves to 6-8 
• Head coach Robert Jones sits eight wins away from career victory No. 250    

UP NEXT 

Norfolk State returns to action tomorrow at 9 p.m. when they face off against UC Irvine in the championship game of the 64th-Annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.