NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University opened up an 18-point lead in the first half and that was all the Spartans needed to pull away from North Carolina Central University for a 66-47 quarterfinal win on Wednesday, March 9.
 
Nothing quite seemed to go in favor of NCCU (13-19, 7-9 MEAC) in the first half with the Eagles racking up six team fouls in the first five minutes of play.  The Eagles also missed their first five shots and found themselves down double-digits early to NSU (17-15, 12-4).
 
The Spartans tallied five blocks with two coming from D'Shon Taylor (Nassau, Bahamas) and forced the Eagles into 12 turnovers.  Jeff Short (Bronx, N.Y.) motored NSU forward in the first 20 minutes with 12 points, and Zaynah Robinson (Duluth, Ga.) added eight points and four rebounds.
 
Short finished with a team-high 16 points and six boards, and Taylor earned 13 points with six rebounds as well.
 
Dante Holmes (Baltimore, Md.) tossed in eight points for the Eagles to keep them in the game, and NCCU had a chance to get the score within 10 points before the break.  However a late technical foul in between free throws allowed a four-point swing for NSU and the Spartans took a 36-21 lead to the half.
 
NCCU hung close with NSU in the second half with the scoring only being separated by four points, but the early lead proved too much for the Eagles down the stretch.  Holmes finished his collegiate career with a game-high 17 points, and Kyle Benton (Long Beach, Calif.) notched 12 points and eight rebounds.