NORFOLK, Va. – Gage Lattimore, Jae Slack and Kelechi Okworogwo all tallied double figures for North Carolina Central, but the Eagles fell 75-68 at Norfolk State on Saturday evening.
NCCU (8-13, 4-2 MEAC) have now split its series with Norfolk State during the regular season as both teams won its home contests. Lattimore led the Eagles with 19 points after catching fire in the first half. Okworogwo followed with 18 points and eight rebounds for the Maroon & Gray. The battle was heated throughout with five technical fouls called as the game got chippy.
Norfolk State (11-14, 4-4 MEAC) dominated the paint in the first half, scoring 22 of its 36 points from close. The Eagles still weren't far behind, trailing 36-31 at the break.
The Spartans started to extend their lead in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Eagles wouldn't let their deficit get to double digits. After stretching the lead to nine at the 14:41 mark, Okworogwo went on a 5-0 run by himself, followed by a three-pointer and layup by Lattimore and Slack, respectively. NCCU was now up 49-48, causing a Norfolk State timeout.
After two-made free throws from Lattimore put NC Central up 51-48 with 11:08 remaining, the Spartans regained the lead and started clicking all over the floor, making shoots from beyond the arc, driving in the paint, and from the charity stripe. A three by Elijah Jamison gave NSU a 69-60 advantage with just over two minutes to go.
NC Central was able to slim the score to five on two different occasions under 30 seconds, but it wouldn't be enough as Norfolk State defeated NCCU, 75-68.
The Eagles thrived on points off turnovers (23-9), but the Spartans found larger contributions from their bench (49-25), mainly from a 28-point performance from Jamison. NCCU was also outrebounded 33-23 and only shot 14 free throws, compared to 27 by Norfolk State. The Eagles went 26-of-55 (.473) from the field.
NCCU will have to regroup quickly as the team welcomes Delaware State on Monday, Feb. 9 at McDougald-McLendon Arena. The contest is set for an 8 p.m. tip.
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