NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State men's basketball team blew out William & Mary 96-62 on Tuesday evening, fueled by one of the team's strongest offensive performances of the year.
Jamarii Thomas continued his stellar start to the season, posting 23 points with a career-high nine assists to lead NSU. Five Spartans scored in double figures – Thomas, Christian Ings (15), Allen Betrand (15), Kuluel Mading (12), and Jaylani Darden (10).
Ings didn't need much time to make his mark. The graduate guard scored 15 points in just 12 minutes of action, adding two rebounds and an assist.
Thomas, the MEAC's leading scorer, got the Spartans moving immediately, tallying the first seven points of the evening. The burst was made up by a driving layup and a pair of jump shots, including a 3-pointer.
Bladen added a pair of paint scores to bring NSU's advantage to 15-4, before Thomas knocked down a jumper and Darden scored from his own offensive rebound. Tyrese Jenkins drained a 3-pointer to surge the Spartans ahead 24-7.
William & Mary strung a couple of baskets together to get back within 10, but Betrand knocked down a deep shot a minute later to return the momentum to Norfolk State. Another Tribe run cut the deficit to seven, but 3-pointers from Jones and Betrand helped NSU separate to a 45-28 halftime advantage.
Darden opened the second half with a 3-pointer, before Thomas powered to the hoop for an and-one finish. Thomas found his high school teammate Mading in the paint for an easy layup, then again for a 3-pointer to put the Spartans ahead by 23.
Jenkins converted from behind the arc for a second time, tallying another assist to Thomas' total. Thomas knocked down a 3-pointer to close out his evening, subbing out with seven minutes to play.
The Spartans gave the home crowd some flashy highlights to wrap up the night, as Mading and Ings slammed down thunderous dunks on the fast break. Ing's knocked down a 3-pointer with a foul for a four-point play in the last minute, putting a final emphasis on the dominant victory.
Spartans drain 12 3-pointers in 96-62 rout of William & Mary
Jamarii Thomas continued his stellar start to the season, posting 23 points with a career-high nine assists to lead NSU. Five Spartans scored in double figures.