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Norfolk State University Athletics

Devon Ellis drives the ball at NC Central
Hannah Vernon Photography
61
Elizabeth City St. ECSU 2-12,1-7 CIAA
86
Winner Norfolk St. Norf 9-12,2-2 MEAC
Elizabeth City St. ECSU
2-12,1-7 CIAA
61
Final
86
Norfolk St. Norf
9-12,2-2 MEAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Elizabeth City St. ECSU 35 26 61
Norfolk St. Norf 43 43 86

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Spartans Surge Past ECSU Behind Second-Half Run

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State Spartans secured their second consecutive victory with an 86-61 win over the Elizabeth City State Vikings on Monday evening inside Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall.

Norfolk State improved to 9-12 overall, while Elizabeth City State fell to 2-12 on the season.

Anthony McComb III led the Spartans with a game-high 25 points, shooting an efficient 7-of-11 from the field. He added a team-best seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while connecting on 3-of-6 attempts from beyond the arc and 8-of-9 at the free throw line. Devon Ellis (15 points), Elijah Jamison (12 points), and Melo Baines (11 points) also reached double figures to round out a balanced scoring effort for NSU.

Elizabeth City State opened the contest with a 4-0 run before McComb sparked the Spartans with a jumper to ignite a 16-2 Norfolk State surge. The run gave NSU a 16-6 advantage at the 13:08 mark, with McComb accounting for six points while Ellis added five and Dian Wright-Forde and Keyontae Lewis each contributed baskets.

The Vikings responded with a 20-10 run over the next eight minutes to even the score at 26-26. Norfolk State quickly regained momentum, building its lead back to double digits following a pair of free throws from Jamison. The Spartans carried a 43-35 advantage into halftime.

Norfolk State came out of the locker room firing, opening the second half on a dominant 19-3 run to take a 62-38 lead by the 14-minute mark. The Spartans continued to apply pressure, stretching the margin to 73-44 with 7:36 remaining and building their largest lead of the night at 84-54 with 1:40 left.

Elizabeth City State closed the final stretch on a 7-2 run, but the outcome was already decided as Norfolk State cruised to the 86-61 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • FINAL: Norfolk State 86, Elizabeth City State 61
  • Anthony McComb III: 25 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal
  • Norfolk State shot 54.4 percent from the field, converting 31-of-57 attempts.
  • The Spartans also went 20-of-26 from the free throw line, shooting 76.9 percent.
NEWS & NOTES
  • Head Coach Robert Jones is now five wins away from his 250th career coaching victory.
  • The win marked Norfolk State's first victory over ECSU since the 2016-17 season (91-55).
  • Monday's matchup was just the fourth meeting between the programs since NSU's transition from Division II to Division I.
  • The game marked the 105th all-time meeting between the two programs.
  • Norfolk State improved its all-time series lead to 67-38.
UP NEXT
The Spartans return to action on Saturday, Jan. 24, hosting Coppin State in MEAC conference play. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m. inside Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall.
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