Norfolk State and South Carolina State were separated by two points in splitting their regular season matchups in MEAC play.
So was it was fitting the men’s basketball championship game came down the final posssesion.
Christian Ings made the first of two free throws with 8.9 seconds left and Jalen Johnson’s missed three-pointer gave the No. 1 Spartans (24-10) a 66-65 win over the Bulldogs (20-13), securing their first MEAC tourney title and NCAA tournament appearance since 2022.
Here’s how Norfolk State punched their ticket to the March Madness:
More of Moore and Ings
Brian Moore Jr. and Christian Ings were noticeably silent in the first half Saturday, but both players asserted themselves in the second half. Ings scored a team-high 16 points and Moore, the MEAC’s newcomer of the year, added 15 as the Spartans turned a 34-25 halftime deficit into a 61-51 lead with under two minutes remaining.
Free points from the free throw line
Norfolk State followed Ings and Moore’s lead of attacking the basket, crashing the offensive boards and getting South Carolina State in foul trouble.
The result was 34 free throw attempts to just 12 for the second-seeded Bulldogs. Norfolk State made 23 of those, an uncharacteristic number of misses thrown in, but the one free throw that counted the most was yet to come.
South Carolina State rallies — but
The Bulldogs fought back to close within two points (65-63) with 12 seconds left. Norfolk State’s inbounds pass was deflected and Caleb McCarty banked in a layup to tie the game at 65.
Unfortunately, McCarty fouled Ings going up the floor with 8.9 seconds to go.
SC State FOULS in a TIED game and loses the MEAC Championship 🤯pic.twitter.com/0l1W8OmZBm
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 15, 2025
Ings made the first of two free throws and when the second was missed, South Carolina State hurried up the floor for a chance at the win.
Johnson cleared some space for himself, but his three-point attempt bounced off the back of the rim and the Bulldogs didn’t regain possession in time for another shot.
