Norfolk State blows out Penn State Wilkes-Barr, 96-41

_{title image via Matt Patterson}

Courtesy of Alex Lehmbeck, Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Communication

41

PSUWB

96

Winner Norf

Robert Jones began his 12^thseason as head coach of the Norfolk State men’s basketball program on Monday night. And for the sixth consecutive season, his team opened the year with a victory.

The Spartans (1-0) spread the wealth in a 96-41 rout over Penn State Wilkes-Barre at Joseph G. Echols Hall. Making his first appearance for his new squad, Brian Moore Jr. paced the home team with 18 points on a 7-of-10 shooting tonight.

Six Spartans scored in double figures on Monday: Moore, Tyrel Bladen (14), Jaylani Darden (11), Dramane Camara (11), Kuluel Mading (10), and Sin’Cere McMahon (10). The points came in large part to facilitation from Christian Ings, who dished a career-high 10 assists.

Norfolk State started the game fast, beginning with a quick driving layup from Mading. Moore knocked down a jumper soon after, getting the Spartans rolling.

After allowing several Penn State Wilkes-Barre scores, Bladen got the crowd back on Norfolk State’s side with a thunderous two-handed dunk on a pass from Ings. The Coatesville, Pa. product added another score moments later to extend Norfolk State’s advantage to 10-4.

McMahon didn’t need long to earn his first points in a Norfolk State uniform, draining a 3-pointer with ease. After Bladen got to the rim for another slam, McMahon drilled a second shot from behind the arc on the Spartans’ next possession.

Coming off a redshirt freshman season, Jordan Leaks tallied his first collegiate points off a pair of free throws late in the first half. Melo Baines, a true freshman and Lake Taylor graduate, earned the first points of his career on an and-one layup just a few minutes later.

Norfolk State’s young squad continued to make the most of its opportunities. Leaks stepped into a 3-pointer with confidence for the Spartans’ final points of the first half, going to the break with a 47-22 lead.

Bladen opened the second period with his third dunk of the day, off another dime from Ings. The pair of former Rider teammates kept the spark going, connecting for another slam a few minutes later.

Moore dipped into double-figure scoring, the 14^thsuch game of his career and first in a Spartan uniform. The graduate transfer skied high for a one-handed dunk on the fast break midway through the second half, swiping an opposing lob pass for a coast-to-coast score.

Camara, a transfer from DePaul, looked comfortable in his first game at Echols Hall scoring a career-high 11 points. He knocked down his final 3-pointer with under eight minutes remaining in the game to give Norfolk State an 80-33 lead.

Moore finished the game off in style, scoring six points in the final two minutes as the Spartans left Echols Hall with a smooth season-opening victory.

Checking The Box Score

• Brian Moore led the Spartans with 18 points on a 7-of-10 shooting night
• Six Spartans scored in double figures on Monday: Moore, Tyrel Bladen (14), Jaylani Darden (11), Dramane Camara (11), Kuluel Mading (10), and Sin’Cere McMahon (10). The points came in large part to facilitation from Christian Ings who dished a career-high 10 assists
• Norfolk State shot 35-of-63 from the floor (55.6 percent), going 18-of-29 (62.1 percent) in the second half
• The Spartans shot 19-of-21 (90.5 percent) from the free-throw line
• NSU outrebounded Penn State Wilkes-Barre 45-22

News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 1-0 with the win
• Norfolk State is now 7-5 in season openers under head coach Robert Jones, opening the last six seasons with a win
• The Spartans now lead the all-time series with Penn State Wilkes-Barre 5-0
• Of all eight MEAC schools to play on Monday, only Norfolk State, South Carolina State, and Morgan State came away with victories

UP NEXT

Norfolk State will return to Echols Hall once again in just two days, facing Virginia University of Lynchburg on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.