Alex Lehmbeck
Feb 17, 2025
The Norfolk State men's basketball team controlled the tempo from start to finish in a 96-84 victory over Delaware State on Monday, led by a spectacular performance from Chris Fields Jr.
Fields finished the evening with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, leading the Spartans (18-8, 8-1 MEAC) in all three categories. Brian Moore Jr. added 20 points, while Tyrel Bladen tallied 16 points and six rebounds on an 8-of-8 shooting night.
After playing limited minutes over the weekend at Maryland Eastern Shore, Christian Ings got off to a quick start on Monday. The guard knocked down a 3-pointer and mid-range jumper for the Spartans' first five points.
Moore got to the rim for two points before knocking down a pull up jumper, pushing Norfolk State ahead 11-9. He got the crowd going a few minutes later, rising high for a two-handed fastbreak slam after a steal from Jaylani Darden.
Bladen scored six points in the first half, including back-to-back baskets that put Norfolk State in front 21-17. Terrance Jones made a quick impact off the bench, knocking down a 3-pointer from the wing to extend the NSU lead to eight.
Kuluel Mading converted on a close attempt in the paint, pushing the gap to double digits for the first time Monday evening. Martez Robinson scored the last five points of the half, however, bringing Delaware State within six, 45-39, at the break.
Fields began to take over in the second half, starting with a putback basket. The sophomore forward flew to the rim for a one-handed dunk, before knocking down a step back jumper less than a minute later.
Continuing his spectacular stretch, Fields euro-stepped through the paint for another crafty layup, giving Norfolk State a 55-49 advantage.
Moore pulled up from short and converted, bringing Norfolk State's lead back to double digits. The Spartans continued to control the game, going up 65-50 on a tough contested layup from Jones with just under 11 minutes to play.
Bladen reached double figures with a pair of buckets, scoring six points in a three-minute span. Moore logged his second dunk of the night a few minutes later before Bladen added another slam soon after.
The Spartans piled onto the scoreboard in the final minutes, capped off by an Ings 3-pointer before the horn. Norfolk State earned its sixth consecutive win, maintaining a two-game advantage in the MEAC standings.
Checking The Box Score
- Chris Fields Jr. led Norfolk State with 23 points, nine rebounds, and six assists
- Brian Moore Jr. added 20 points and four assists
- Tyrel Bladen logged 16 points and six rebounds off the bench, shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the field
- Jaylani Darden tallied seven points, eight rebounds, five assists, and a career-high five steals
- Norfolk State shot 54.4 percent from the floor (37-of-68), going 21-of-33 (63.6 percent) in the second period
- NSU outscored DSU 58-38 in the paint
- Norfolk State's bench accounted for 33 points, while DSU's bench tallied 10 points
- Monday's game featured eight ties and four lead changes
News & Notes
- Norfolk State improved to 18-8 with the win, 8-1 in MEAC play
- DSU dropped to 13-11 with the loss, 5-4 in the MEAC
- Norfolk State now leads the all-time series with DSU 49-25
- NSU has won 18 of its last 19 matchups against Delaware State
- Chris Fields Jr. became just the third Spartan of the last 20 years to record at least 23 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in a game. Steven Whitley (at Bethune Cookman) and DeVante Carter (vs. Hampton) achieved the feat in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State hits the road for its second Baltimore trip of the season on Saturday, facing Coppin State at 4 p.m. at the CSU Physical Education Complex Arena.