Turnovers undo cold Spartans

By Brian J. French Correspondent

NORFOLK

Having a chance to win after going scoreless for nearly 12 minutes is unusual. But fumbling away that chance has been all too familiar  for Norfolk State, which dropped a frustrating 54-52 decision Monday night to Delaware State  at Echols Hall.

The Spartans (5-17, 4-6 MEAC) held a 29-26 lead on Kyle O’Quinn’s 3-pointer with 19:04 to play. They wouldn’t score again until Rob Hampton’s line-drive jumper with 7:25 to go. In the 11: 39  between baskets, NSU had nine turnovers and eight missed shots.

But the Hornets (12-9, 7-3) only led 38-31 at the end of NSU’s drought, and the Spartans cut the lead to two three times in the final minute. They even had a chance to tie with 12 seconds left when Delaware State’s Jay Threatt missed a free throw as  the Hornets le d  53-50.

But as  the rest of his team abandoned the lane to play defense on the final possession, Threatt managed to snag the rebound . “We gave the game away,” Norfolk State coach Anthony Evans said. “Turnovers and free throws killed us. It’s about what we did and didn’t do.”

More what they didn’t do. The Spartans turned  ball over 26 times, nine of which came during their scoreless stretch. And they couldn’t maintain tempo or poise in a game where the Hornets and their MEAC-leading 58.3-points-per-game defense caused problems for Norfolk State.

“When you have a team as methodical as (Delaware State), you have to take advantage of the opportunities you get,” Evans said. “If not, then you have to settle down and look for the quality shot.”

Michael Deloach scored 18 points, but  had trouble finding open shots. He   committed seven turnovers, including one in which  he lost control of the ball out of bounds driving to the basket with 27 seconds left and the Hornets ahead 52-48.

That wasn’t the end just yet. Delaware State’s Marcus Neal missed two free throws and Deloach hit a jumper with 12 seconds left to cut the margin to 52-50. O’Quinn, who finished with 12 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, immediately fouled Threatt. He  made  the first shot, missed the second and promptly grabbed the rebound.

It was a finish  similar to Norfolk State’s  100-94 overtime loss to Morgan State on Jan. 31, in which the Spartans led through most of the first half but faltered late.

“We tried to work on pressure and driving the lanes,” Evans said, “but you can’t simulate it against another team.”

The loss also keeps NSU  from making headway in the muddled middle of the MEAC. The Spartans could have forged a tie for fifth with Maryland-Eastern Shore and Howard, an important distinction because the top five teams in the conference get a bye in next month’s tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C. Instead, NSU is tied with Hampton – this Saturday’s foe –  for eighth.

Neal finished with 16 points to lead Delaware State, which remains in a tie with South Carolina State for second.

Note Deloach was named the MEAC Player of the Week on Monday.