ST. THOMAS, V.I. – The Norfolk State men’s basketball team hit a school record 14 3-pointers from just three players, but its furious comeback against DePaul on Monday afternoon came up short at the end in an 82-78 loss.
Down by two, NSU’s last possession shot was blocked as the Spartans fell in their final game of the 2015 Paradise Jam at the Sports & Fitness Center on the campus of the University of the Virgin Islands.
NSU (1-4) nearly pulled the upset, overcoming a 14-point second half deficit when its 3-point shooting began to heat up. The Spartans hit 10 of their threes in the second half and finished the game 14-of-28 from long range.
The Spartans answered with a 12-2 run, scoring nine of those points within a 30-second span on threes from seniors D’Shon Taylor and Charles Oliver and then a 3-point play by senior Jeff Short. Then on NSU’s next three possessions, Taylor drained a 3-pointer and Short followed with two more of his own to tie the game at 66-66.
DePaul scored eight of the next 11 points in the game, but sophomore Zaynah Robinson hit a pair of free throws and Oliver’s 3-pointer in transition tied it up again at 74-74.
A pair of buckets by the Blue Demons put them back ahead by three with a minute left. After Robinson’s jumper with 19.0 seconds left cut the deficit to one, NSU’s last possession attempt down by two with time running down was blocked.
DePaul (2-3) iced the win with two free throws at the end.
Taylor finished the game with game highs of 23 points and nine rebounds to go along with a career-high five assists. He sank 7-of-12 overall and 5-of-7 from 3-point range.
NSU will get several days off before heading across the country to Northern Arizona for a matchup next Monday.
Mountaineers handle Wildcats 97-44
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Bethune-Cookman’s first venture into Top 25 territory in four years ended with a 97-44 loss to No. 22 West Virginia Monday night.
Daxter Miles Jr. scored 14 points to lead seven Mountaineers (4-0) in double-figures as they held the Wildcats (2-2) to season lows in scoring and shooting (25 percent). Three Mountaineers double-doubled, including Devin Williams, who posted his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Josue Salaam led Bethune-Cookman with 12 points.
Mario Moody and Lewis each scored seven points for B-CU, while Potts and Randy Holmes each had six points and six rebounds.
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