Norfolk State 83, UMBC 66
Malcolm Hawkins' 20 points led three Norfolk State players in double figures as the Spartans rolled to their fourth straight win by beating Maryland-Baltimore County 83-66 on Sunday in Norfolk, Va.
Pendarvis Williams added 19 points and Rob Johnson 15 for Norfolk State (6-5), which posted a fairly one-sided victory in the team's final home game in 2012. The Spartans won't return to Echols Gym until Jan. 5 against Navy, and begin a stretch of five straight road games on Tuesday against a nationally-ranked Illinois team.
Defense provided the key for the Spartans in their latest win. Norfolk State held the Retrievers to only two made field goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, building a 22-9 lead in the process.
UMBC never recovered, and Norfolk State maintained a double-digit lead most of the way.
Johnson, the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, added 11 rebounds for the double-double. Jamel Fuentes added seven points and nine assists, and Williams compiled seven rebounds and five assists as part of a well-rounded performance. The lone returning starter from last season's MEAC tournament championship team, Williams is averaging 17.5 points since he missed two games to rest a sore knee.
Ryan Cook's 22 points and Chase Plummer's 14 rebounds led UMBC (2-8), which shot 34.3 percent from the field and went 0-for-16 from 3-point range.
