NSU tops Coppin State to face Hampton in MEAC semis

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Norfolk State coach Anthony Evans admitted drawing up a play for a game-winning shot "hardly ever works."

"It didn't work this time either," Evans said. The plan was for freshman sharpshooter Pendarvis Williams to inbound the ball from the baseline, then race to the corner, where he would launch a 3-pointer. If it missed, Plan B was that the league's leading rebounder, Kyle O'Quinn, would have a chance at scoring off an offensive rebound.

But Coppin State overplayed Williams, denying him the ball, and it was up to senior guard Rob Hampton to make something happen. That was Plan C. And it worked.



Seeing a flash of daylight in the lane from just beyond the top of the key, the 6-foot-4 Hampton sliced his body through three defenders and banked home a layup with two seconds remaining as sixth-seeded Norfolk State upset third-seeded Coppin State 55-53 in a Thursday night quarterfinal game in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament.

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O'Quinn's double-double sparks NSU's upset of Morgan

NORFOLK - Norfolk State has become the enigma of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Behind a 23-point, 18-rebound effort from center Kyle O'Quinn, the Spartans beat defending MEAC champion Morgan State 69-63 Saturday night at Echols Hall.

The Bears (15-11, 10-4) had rolled into Echols Hall tied for first in the MEAC in the loss column with Bethune-Cookman. But for the second time this season, they walked off the court victims of O'Quinn and a Norfolk State team that's hard to figure. Norfolk State had lost five of its previous six, but was far and away the best team on the court Saturday.

And O'Quinn was far and away the best player.



Norfolk State Upsets Lady Bears, 66-65

NORFOLK, Va. - On a day which Norfolk State honored all of its past championship teams on Alumni Day, and held its ring ceremony for its 2009-10 women's and men's cross country, indoor and outdoor championship teams, the Spartans women's basketball team played like champions as well this afternoon.

Rae Corbo scored a team-high 20 points, including four three-pointers and Rachel Gordon grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to go with her nine points to lead Norfolk State to a 66-65 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) victory over visiting Morgan State on Saturday afternoon at Echols Hall.



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NSU center O'Quinn loses 15 pounds, gains stature

NORFOLK, VA - Thin is in for Kyle O'Quinn. Anybody looking for answers as to why Norfolk State's 6-foot-10 junior center has been the best player in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the past month should look no further than the scale. These days, it reads 235 pounds, 15 less than a year ago.

"I can get down the court now, almost all the time, where last year, I couldn't and didn't," said O'Quinn, who has averaged 25.4 points and 13.3 rebounds in his past five games. "Nothing tells you that you're dragging better than watching game film and running across a possession where your team is playing 4-on-5 because you haven't yet made it across half court."

So what spurred the weight loss? O'Quinn points to local high school basketball coach Walter Webb, whom O'Quinn met through a mutual acquaintance.




1. Videographer: UrbanSportsITG
2. Videographer: SportsGrooveTV

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Virginia Barely Slips by Norfolk State, 50-49

Charlottesville, VA - UVa men's basketball got a huge scare Monday night, but the Cavaliers pulled out a 50-49 win over Norfolk State.

UVa had to play again without the injured Mike Scott. Mustapha Farrakhan picked up the scoring slack, leading the Cavs with 18 points. The Spartans came into the game losers of six straight but they outrebounded UVa 43-36 and they had a one-point lead with time winding down. Sammy Zeglinski's three-pointer rimmed out, but K.T. Harrell got the rebound and was fouled. He missed both free throws, but the 7-footer Assane Sene tipped in the game-winner with 4.8 seconds left.



U.Va. squeaks past NSU 50-49 with late tip-in

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - It was evident Monday night at John Paul Jones Arena that the Norfolk State Spartans are going to be a much better team with transfer Chris McEachin in their lineup. It was also crystal clear that the Virginia Cavaliers are a donut unit - sweet on the outside and empty in the middle - as long as power forward Mike Scott is sidelined as he recovers from ankle surgery.

Monday's result was expected: A Virginia victory over a team that ranks No. 311 in the power rankings among 348 Division I teams. The way it came about was mind-boggling and bordered on unbelievable.

The Cavaliers needed an Assane Sene tip-in of a missed free throw with 4.8 seconds remaining to pull out a 50-49 win in front of a crowd of 7,856 that ...

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N.C. A&T rides play of Coleman, Hill

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- In the aftermath of N.C. A&T's wild overtime win over Norfolk State on Saturday, Aggies head coach Jerry Eaves had already taken off his coat, loosened his tie and unbuttoned his top button. As he took the walk to his seat in the postgame interview room, Eaves carried a telling look -- one of exhaustion, joy and most clearly, relief.

"I can't complain," Eaves deadpanned in response to how he was doing. Talk about an understatement. Thanks to 25 points after intermission from Marc Hill and a brilliant all-around effort from center Thomas Coleman, A&T escaped with an 89-81 win.

Norfolk State loses league opener in OT

GREENSBORO, N.C. - After committing a foul in the final seconds of overtime, Norfolk State forward Kyle O'Quinn pounded the ball on the floor over and over again. The score was already out of reach and his foul had no effect on the outcome, but O'Quinn couldn't help himself. His team had been so close, only to see a late lead crumble away - again.

"For them to shoot the way they did and for us to stay that close, we let it slip out of our hands," O'Quinn said of his team's 89-81 loss to North Carolina A&T (5-3). "It kind of makes you mad at the end if you don't come out the victor." The game quickly boiled down to a battle between the two tallest players on the court.

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2008-09 NSU schedule kicks off with Bahamas trip

Michael Deloach, 6-0/175 guard, senior, Rocky Mount, N.C., Bonner Academy (Mark's Digital Photography).

Norfolk State's men's basketball team has lined up a 2008-09 schedule that includes its typical long December road trip to help fill the athletic department's coffers with guarantee money. But fans willing to do a little traveling can catch the Spartans in-state to begin the season. NSU kicks off the slate with games at Longwood (Nov. 16) and William and Mary (Nov. 19).

The Spartans are also going to take advantage of the NCAA's allotment of an overseas trip once every four years and will travel to the Bahamas in a few weeks for a two-game set against club teams in the Nassau area. NCAA rules allow for 10 days of practice before such trips.

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2008-2009 Men's Basketball Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time/Result Details
11/16/2008 Longwood Farmville, Va. 7 p.m. Details
11/19/2008 William & Mary Williamsburg, Va. 7 p.m. Details
11/25/2008 Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. 8 p.m. Details
11/30/2008 Air Force Colorado Springs, Colo. 4 p.m. Details
12/2/2008 Jacksonville State Norfolk, Va. 7 p.m. Details
12/6/2008 * North Carolina A&T Greensboro, N.C. TBA Details
12/17/2008 Wright State Cleveland, Ohio TBA Details

Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tournament
12/20/2008 TBA Springfield, Mo. TBA Details
12/21/2008 TBA Springfield, Mo. TBA Details

Montana State Classic
12/28/2008 Texas-Pan American Bozeman, Mont. TBA Details
12/29/2008 Consolation/Championship Bozeman, Mont. TBA Details

1/10/2009 * Coppin State Baltimore, Md. TBA Details
1/12/2009 * Morgan State Baltimore, Md. 7:30 p.m. Details
1/17/2009 * Delaware State Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
1/19/2009 * Maryland Eastern Shore Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
1/24/2009 * South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. 4 p.m. Details
1/26/2009 Winston-Salem State Winston-Salem, N.C. 7:30 p.m. Details
1/31/2009 * Hampton Hampton, Va. 6 p.m. Details
2/2/2009 * Howard Washington, D.C. 8 p.m. Details
2/7/2009 * Bethune-Cookman Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
2/9/2009 * Florida A&M Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
2/14/2009 * Delaware State Dover, Del. 4 p.m. Details
2/16/2009 * Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, Md. 7:30 p.m. Details
2/21/2009 * South Carolina State Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
2/23/2009 Winston-Salem State Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
2/28/2009 * Hampton Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
3/2/2009 * Howard Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
3/5/2009 * North Carolina A&T Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details

2009 MEAC Basketball Tournament
3/10/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/11/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/12/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/13/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/13/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/14/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details