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NORFOLK, Va. — Reggie Holmes' traditional 3-point play in overtime gave Morgan State the lead for good and highlighted a critical 8-0 run as visiting Morgan State rallied by Norfolk State 100-94 on Sunday afternoon at Echols Hall.
NSU (3-16, 2-5 MEAC) led 90-89 with 2:35 left in OT after a layup by senior guard Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.), who scored a career-high 34 points. But the Bears (15-7, 7-0 MEAC) went on an 8-0 run to pull away. Kevin Thompson, who had 21 points and 14 rebounds, hit 1-of-2 free throws to tie it at 90-all. He missed the second foul shot, but DeWayne Jackson got the offensive rebound. Holmes, who struggled for much of the night, then hit a layup and converted the free throw for a 3-point play to give MSU the lead.
Deloach missed layups each of the next two times down for the floor for NSU. Thompson hit a layup and Jackson a break-away dunk to cap the spurt and give the Bears an insurmountable 97-90 lead with 24 seconds left in the extra session.
The Spartans lost their fourth in a row despite a career night by Deloach and a season-high five players in double figures. NSU controlled much of the game, only to surrender the lead late but force overtime on a last-second 3-pointer by Rob Hampton (Queens, N.Y.).
NSU shot 58.6 percent (17-of-29) from the floor in the first half while holding the Bears to 38.9 percent (12-of-36) shooting. Marcos Tamares (Queens, N.Y.) had 12 of his 14 points and Deloach scored 10 points in the half, which ended with the Spartans ahead 41-37.
NSU started the second half on a 12-5 run to take its largest lead, 53-42, with 16:08 left. Deloach and Aleek Pauline (Jamaica, N.Y.) each hit a 3-pointer in that stretch, which Tim Zephyr (Bronx, N.Y.) capped with two free throws. The Bears started to rally behind the play of Thompson. He scored 12 second-half points and led a strong charge on the offensive glass. The Bears recorded 33 second-chance points off of 29 offensive rebounds, with Thompson grabbing 10 of those.
Bears' guard Sean Thomas also contributed with several key baskets in the second half. He scored 15 of his 16 points after halftime. His 3-pointer from the left wing gave the Bears their first lead of the second half, 72-71, with 4:31 left in regulation. Thomas would later score three straight points to give the Bears the lead with 1:10 left. Following an NSU turnover, Thompson scored on a putback with 10 seconds left to give MSU an 85-82 edge.
But Deloach dribbled up the floor and found Hampton on the right baseline, and Hampton drained a trey with 4.3 seconds left in regulation to tie the game. Joe Davis missed a runner at the other end to send it into overtime.
But the Spartans shot just 33.3 percent (3-of-9) in the extra session, while MSU hit 71.4 percent (5-of-7).
Deloach was 11-of-19 from the floor and 11-of-13 from the foul line. He also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Kyle O'Quinn (Jamaica, N.Y.) had 17 points and six rebounds before fouling out in overtime. Pauline had 10 points, seven assists and four steals all while hounding Holmes, the MEAC's leading scorer, into 6-of-20 shooting. Hampton had 11 points for NSU, which shot a season-high 56.7 percent (34-of-60).
Holmes still managed 19 points. Jackson and Troy Smith added 18 apiece.
The Spartans are back in action on Monday night against Coppin State. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.
