Streaking Spartans soar to 4th in row

NORFOLK

That last home game as a college star is always a tough one.

You get flowers, a framed jersey, and pose for pictures before it ever begins. And then you're supposed to wipe it all from your mind and go out with a bang.

Michael Deloach, Norfolk State's dynamic senior guard, followed the script Monday night, scoring 31 points in front of a national cable-television audience as he led the Spartans to an 82-62 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win over South Carolina State at Echols Hall.

It was Norfolk State's fourth consecutive victory.

The 6-footer, who fans and friends call "Moe," was on his game from tip to finish, going 12 for 17 from the field and knocking down three consecutive 3-pointers in a span of 98 seconds that broke this one open in the first half.

"I knew I was on when I made the third one," Deloach said. "That was a step-back 3-pointer and it was a bad shot that still went in. That was a 'heat check' shot."

Deloach had 19 points in the first half as Norfolk State ran out to a 36-22 lead. He only took six shots from the field in the second half, but his mere presence on the court opened the floor for Rob Hampton, who scored 15 of his 19 points after the break.

Deloach, who earlier in the day had been named MEAC Player of the Week, had two of his most spectacular dunks in this one.

Midway through the first half he soared up the baseline for an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Aleek Pauline. Then in the second half when the Bulldogs were threatening to make it a game, Deloach stole an inbounds pass near halfcourt and went in for the crowd pleaser. He bounced the ball off the floor near the free throw line and chased it to the rim, catching it and dunking it for a 63-48 lead.

"I have never been around anybody with springs in his legs like Moe's," said Norfolk State coach Anthony Evans. "I had a 6-2 guard years ago who could jump like Moe does on the run. But Moe can do it going straight-up vertical too."

Deloach's performance left him with 1,701 career points after his fourth 30-plus output of the season. He needs 10 Saturday when the Spartans (9-17, 7-6 MEAC) visit league-leading Morgan State to move into Norfolk State's top-10 all-time scoring list.

The Spartans, who are hotter now than they've ever been while in Division I, have won 6 of 7 to move into fourth place in the MEAC. The top five teams earn first-round byes in the season-ending tournament.

Despite a horrible start in which they lost 11 straight, the Spartans have won their last three games by 20 or more.

Senior center Joseph Dorsett-Jeffreys also went out on a high note, scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds in a spot start. Tim Zephyr added 11 points for Norfolk State.

"It's all about chemistry," Evans said. "We have found it and we've done so at the right time."

And some of it is about timing. The Spartans caught the Bulldogs (14-12, 8-6) while they were leg-weary. Because of their participation in the weekend's BracketBusters, South Carolina State was playing its fifth game in 10 days, all on the road. Jason Flagler led the Bulldogs with 16 points.

"I hate being the opposing coach on Senior Night," said South Carolina State coach Tim Carter. "And we certainly didn't need to be playing against a guy like Deloach tonight."

Rich Radford, (757) 446-2463, rich.radford@pilotonline.com