Norfolk State Edges Morgan State, Advances to MEAC Championship Thriller!

Norfolk, Va. – In a nail-biting semifinal showdown, No. 1 seed Norfolk State outlasted No. 5 seed Morgan State, securing a hard-fought 58-55 victory in the MEAC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

With the win, the Spartans punched their ticket to Saturday’s MEAC Championship game, where they will face the winner of the semifinal clash between No. 2 seed South Carolina State and No. 6 seed North Carolina Central. The title game is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

Norfolk State, now 23-10, had to dig deep to fend off a relentless Morgan State rally in the final minutes. The Bears had two late opportunities to tie the game in the last 30 seconds, but the Spartans’ defense held firm to secure the win.

Christian Ings led the charge for Norfolk State, dropping 19 points, while Brian Moore Jr. came alive in the second half, scoring 13 of his 14 total points in a crucial stretch. Moore’s clutch jumper at the 4:10 mark gave the Spartans their largest lead of the game at 54-47. However, Morgan State refused to go quietly, trimming the deficit to three points after Rob Lawson’s three-point play with under a minute remaining.

With 53.9 seconds left, a Norfolk State shot clock violation gifted Morgan State a chance to even the score. The Bears, however, could not capitalize, and after Moore missed the front end of a one-and-one, they had one final opportunity. With 7.6 seconds remaining, Morgan State inbounded the ball, but Kameron Hobbs’ last-second shot missed the mark, allowing the Spartans to secure the rebound and seal their place in the championship game.

Hobbs, who exploded for 33 points in Morgan State’s quarterfinal win over Howard, was limited to 11 points in this contest. No other Bear reached double figures, with Daniel Akitoby and Will Thomas chipping in eight points apiece. Morgan State concludes its season with a 14-18 record.

The game was a battle from start to finish. Morgan State held a 32-25 advantage early in the second half, but Norfolk State responded with a key run, tying the game at 37-37 following an inside bucket by Chris Fields Jr. The Spartans briefly took a 40-37 lead before Morgan State fought back to level the score at 43-43 with 8:52 remaining. Norfolk State then strung together an 11-4 run to create a seven-point cushion at 54-47, their largest lead of the game. The Bears made a final push in the last minute, but the Spartans held strong to clinch the victory.

Norfolk State now turns its attention to the MEAC Championship game, where they will look to claim their first tournament title since 2023 and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Tags: Norfolk State, MEAC Basketball, College Basketball, HBCU Sports, Morgan State, MEAC Tournament, March Madness, Basketball Championship, NCAA Tournament, Norfolk Scope Arena