Norfolk State 74, Delaware State 56
Malcolm Hawkins led the way with 20 points as Norfolk State turned back Delaware State 74-56 in Saturday's home game to win its ninth straight, setting a Spartans record for the longest winning streak at the Division I level.
The Spartans (15-10, 10-0), who won the MEAC tournament last season, remain undefeated in the conference. Norfolk State snapped a five-game losing streak to the Hornets. Coach Anthony Evans' squad now has beaten each of the other 12 teams in the MEAC in the past two years.
Delaware State is known for its methodical playing style and tough half-court defense, and the halftime score, 32-26 in Norfolk's favor, reflected that. The Spartans' offense started clicking after intermission, however. Up 46-37 early in the second half, Norfolk State scored 24 of the game's next 34 points to build a 70-47 advantage by the final media timeout. That stretch included separate 6-0 and 8-0 runs, and at one point Brandon Goode scored eight straight.
Goode amassed 17 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes of playing time. Rob Johnson added 10 points and Pendarvis Williams had nine, leaving him eight points shy of the 1,000-point milestone.
Marques Oliver paced Delaware State (10-12, 5-3) with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Norfolk State remains a half-game ahead of North Carolina Central, which coincidentally is the only MEAC team the Spartans do not play during the regular season.
