NORFOLK, Va. – Tahj Tate scored a game-high 25 points, including the tying put-back that sent the game into overtime, as visiting Delaware State won its eighth straight game, 73-63, over Norfolk State on Wednesday night at Echols Hall.

The Spartans (18-9, 10-3 MEAC) led 59-57 after Quasim Pugh hit 1-of-2 from the line with 13 seconds left in regulation. DSU's Tyshawn Bell missed a potential winning 3-pointer at the other end, but the shot rimmed out. Tate swooped in and grabbed the offensive board, laying it back in off the glass in the same motion to knot the score at 59 with 1.3 seconds left.

The Hornets (12-11, 9-3) took the lead for good on their first possession of overtime on a 3-pointer by Casey Walker, and the deflated Spartans couldn't recover. NSU missed seven of its eight shots in the extra session, getting only a desperation Kyle O'Quinn 3-pointer with 26 seconds left. By that time, the Hornets had built a nine-point lead and they sealed it at the foul line, hitting 7-of-10 to earn their fifth straight win over NSU.

Neither team led by more than six points in regulation in a game that was played largely at DSU's slower-paced tempo. NSU took a 19-18 lead into the break after a Rob Johnson jumper with one second left in the first half. The teams combined to shoot just 15-of-51 in the opening half.

DSU scored the first six points of the second half on jumpers by Tate and Jay Threatt and two free throws by James Marcellus. But NSU rallied behind the play of O'Quinn, Brandon Wheeless and Pendarvis Williams, who combined for 28 points in the second half. Wheeless gave the Spartans their first lead of the period when Pugh fed Wheeless for a fast-break layup with7:26 to go. That started an 11-4 spurt for NSU, with all the points coming via Wheeless (seven) and Williams (four).

NSU still led 53-48 lead after Pugh drove to the basket for a layup with 2:23 remaining, but DSU scored five straight points on a Tate layup and a Walker triple to tie the game with 1:21 left.

Pugh had the answer for NSU with a trey of his own with 54 seconds left. Threatt added two mid-range jumpers to keep DSU close before Pugh's free throw miss opened the door for the Hornets to tie it.

Walker added 16 points for DSU, with 14 coming after halftime. Threatt had 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Marcellus added eight points and eight rebounds.

Wheeless led NSU with a career-high 17 points. He grabbed five rebounds, all on the offensive end. Despite taking just eight shots from the floor, O'Quinn finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks, one shy of his career high. Johnson added nine points and six boards off the bench, and Williams and Pugh added eight points apiece.

NSU plays its final home game of the season on Monday night when its hosts Longwood at 7 p.m. at Echols Hall. The Spartans will recognize their five seniors prior to the game. NSU then hits the road for its final three MEAC games of the regular season.