NORFOLK — A few weeks ago, Norfolk State was searching for traction. Saturday afternoon, it looked like a team that has finally found its footing.
The Spartans’ men stretched their winning streak to four games with a 90-71 victory over South Carolina State, moving to 14-14 overall and 7-4 in MEAC play. After sitting at 3-4 in the conference not long ago, Norfolk State has surged back into the thick of a race that remains tightly packed at the top.
Associate head coach Jamal Brown said the shift began internally.
“We had some come-to-Jesus meetings,” Brown said. “We had to just talk about the opportunity was still in front of us. Everything that we wanted — 20 wins, MEAC regular-season championship, MEAC Tournament championship, NCAA Tournament appearance — everything was still there. We just had to take it one game at a time.”
The first half Saturday reflected a team still needing to prove it. The game was competitive and physical, with South Carolina State attacking the offensive glass and pushing the pace behind its guard play. But with 25 seconds left before halftime, Melo Baines drilled a 3-pointer that changed the tone.
The shot sparked a 14-0 run that stretched into the opening minutes of the second half, flipping a tight contest into a double-digit lead. Norfolk State eventually ballooned its advantage to 23 points.
“At halftime, we felt like we should have been up more,” Brown said. “We let some points get away from us. So we wanted to come out, be aggressive, turn them over and see if we could get some easy baskets. That allowed us to push the lead.”
Anthony McComb III led the way with 24 points, while Jaquel Morris added 13 and Elijah Jamison had 11 points and six assists. Offensively, Norfolk State has been steady most of the season. The more telling development during the streak has come on the defensive end.
In their four conference losses, the Spartans allowed 77.5 points per game. During the four-game winning streak, that number has dropped to 65.6.
“Defense has always been the emphasis of this team,” Brown said. “We just haven’t been doing a great job of it all year. There have been years where we’ve been ranked top two, top four in the country. We know we have it. We just have to follow the game plan.”
The difference hasn’t necessarily shown up in opponent shooting percentages as dramatically as the raw scoring totals, but Norfolk State has limited extended scoring runs and closed games with more control. Brown credited the team’s upperclassmen for setting the tone.
“The upperclassmen really took ownership,” he said. “Guys understand their roles. There’s no attitudes on the team. Everybody’s in it right now for one common goal.”
With three games remaining — at Coppin State, at MEAC contender Morgan State and the season finale at home against MEAC leader Howard — the Spartans sit within striking distance of the top of the standings at No. 3. Brown believes that position is meaningful.
“We control our own destiny,” he said. “It’s just a matter of taking it one game at a time. We’re not looking forward to anything but the next game and the next day.”
If Norfolk State has indeed shifted into its “proper gear,” as Brown described it, the timing couldn’t be better. Plus, he and the Spartans believe they’re playing at their optimal level.
And what a time to get there.
Norfolk State travels to Coppin State on Saturday, Feb. 28.
