NCAA Basketball

Norfolk State Spartans (22-11)


Mon. 2/27 Thu. 3/2 Thu. 3/9 Fri. 3/10 Sat. 3/11
@ NCCent 
L 75-76
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@ Howard 
L 67-87
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vs. Coppin 
W 73-56
Box | Recap
@ NCCent 
W 72-65
Box | Recap
@ Howard 
L 64-65
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Howard wins by point, heads to 1st NCAA tourney since 1992

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Jelani Williams scored 20 points including two free throws with 6.1 seconds left to lead Howard to a 65-64 win on Saturday in the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference Tournament championship game and the Bison's first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 31 years.

This is Howard’s first MEAC Tournament title since 1992, which was also the last time the Bison won the regular-season championship until this season. They beat the Spartans twice during the regular season 87-67 and 86-84 but the championship game was a tenacious defensive matchup.

Free throws by Terrance Jones and Joe Bryant gave Norfolk State a 64-60 lead with 23.7 seconds remaining. Marcus Dockery made his first 3-pointer after missing his first five attempts to get Howard within a point with 13.2 to go then Norfolk State threw the inbounds pass out of bounds on a miscommunication.

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Leaders
Points: J. Bryant Jr.17.8
Rebounds: K. Bankston7.1
Assists: J. Bryant Jr.3.1
FG%: K. Bankston68.8%
FT%: J. Bryant Jr.84.0%
3P%: J. Bryant Jr.37.0%
Steals: J. Bryant Jr.1.8
Blocks: K. Bankston1.5
AP Rankings
Rank School Rec
1 Alabama31-6
2 Houston33-4
3 Purdue29-6
4 Kansas28-8
5 Texas29-9
6 Marquette29-7
7 UCLA31-6
8 Arizona28-7
9 Gonzaga31-6
10 UConn31-8
View Complete Poll
Coaches Rankings
Rank School Rec
1 UConn31-8
2 San Diego State32-7
3 Miami (FL)29-8
4 Alabama31-6
5 Florida Atlantic35-4
6 Houston33-4
7 Texas29-9
8 UCLA31-6
9 Kansas State26-10
10 Gonzaga31-6
View Complete Poll
Mid-Eastern Standings
 ConferenceOverall
  W-L W-L
Howard 11-3 22-13
North Carolina Central 10-4 18-12
Norfolk State 9-5 22-11
Maryland Eastern Shore 9-5 18-13
Morgan State 8-7 15-16
Coppin State 4-10 9-23
Delaware State 4-11 6-24
South Carolina State 2-12 5-26
View Full Standings
Offense (Rank)
Points: 75.8 (77)
Rebounds: 11.0 (102)
Assists: 12.8 (198)
FG%: 47.2% (38)
FT%: 74.4% (75)
3P%: 33.9% (196)
Defense (Rank)
Points: 68.6 (134)
Rebounds: 24.9 (171)
Assists: 14.0 (279)
FG%: 40.8% (36)
FT%: 68.5% (38)
3P%: 34.7% (249)
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