In a decisive victory, Norfolk State (Spiders) outpaced South Carolina State (Bulldogs) 90-71 on the road. The final margin of 19 points underscores the gulf between these two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams, with the Spiders' superior performance evident throughout.
Norfolk State established a commanding lead early, taking a 44-35 advantage into the intermission. The Bulldogs were unable to close the gap in the second half, as the Spiders maintained their dominance, ultimately securing a 46-36 edge in the final 20 minutes. Norfolk State's NET ranking of 307 is a testament to its improved performance this season, while South Carolina State, ranked 357, faces an uphill battle to make a push for the NCAA Tournament.
Anthony McComb III led the Norfolk State offense, scoring a game-high 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. His efficiency from the free throw line was nearly perfect, converting all six attempts. McComb III also contributed defensively with one block.
Jaquel Morris provided a strong supporting effort, scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from the line. He also showed his defensive prowess with two blocks. Meanwhile, Elijah Jamison played a more facilitative role, dishing out six assists to go along with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field.
Jayden Johnson's 18 points were a bright spot for South Carolina State, but his overall impact was limited by his meager rebounding total and lack of defensive presence. His 3 assists were a modest contribution, but ultimately not enough to help the Bulldogs overcome their deficit. Despite shooting efficiently from the field and beyond the arc, Johnson's scoring output was overshadowed by Norfolk State's balanced attack.
Cameron Clark's strong rebounding performance (7 boards) was a rare bright spot for the Bulldogs, but his 16 points were largely a product of easy scoring opportunities rather than a sustained, impactful performance. Clark's inability to contribute on the defensive end, evidenced by his single block, was a notable omission. Meanwhile, Florian Tenebay's 8 points were largely a product of his strong free throw shooting, but his overall lack of involvement in the game was a concerning trend.
Melo Baines's outing stood out for its marked increase in production across the board, with the sophomore forward nearly tripling his season average in scoring and rebounding. The most notable aspect of Baines's performance, however, was his efficiency, converting at a 50% clip from the field, including a perfect 3-point attempt, and an unblemished 100% mark from the free-throw line, a significant improvement over his season averages. This efficiency, combined with his increased scoring and rebounding output, made Baines a key contributor in Norfolk State's victory.
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Final
The final score of 90-71 in favor of Norfolk State was not a surprising outcome, as the pre-game prediction of a 14.3-point victory for the Spartans was ultimately confirmed. However, the margin of victory was more substantial than anticipated, with Norfolk State ultimately prevailing by 19 points.
The decisive factors in this game were Norfolk State's dominance in the paint and its ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities. The Spartans' elevated effective field goal percentage (eFG%) of 68.5% was a significant departure from their season average, indicating a high level of efficiency in their offense. Meanwhile, South Carolina State's 40.0% OREB rate, a marked increase from their season average, ultimately proved to be a double-edged sword, as it allowed Norfolk State to grab a significant number of offensive rebounds, which in turn fueled their scoring surge. The combination of these factors allowed Norfolk State to assert control over the game and secure a convincing victory.
Norfolk State's victory over South Carolina State adds a much-needed Quad 4 win to its resume, but it does little to boost its overall NET ranking, which remains a distant 307. The Spartans' inability to secure a Quad 1 or 2 victory this season will likely result in a low seed in the NCAA Tournament, potentially a 15-seed or worse. Meanwhile, South Carolina State's loss extends its dismal record to 7-19, and its NET ranking has slipped to 357. With a 0-3 record against Quad 1 opponents and 0-2 against Quad 2 opponents, the Bulldogs' NCAA Tournament chances are now all but extinct.