NSU outlasts Radford for second road win
Mustafa Lawrence made two free throws and Efstratios Kalagerias scored on a layup as Norfolk State scored the game’s final four points in a 57-54 victory over Radford on Saturday night.
The game was played at James Madison University’s Atlantic Union Bank Center.
The Spartans (2-0) collected a second consecutive road victory over a state opponent after knocking off JMU on Thursday. NSU eyes its first 3-0 start since moving to Division I and welcomes Old Dominion (1-1) to Echols Hall on Wednesday.
The Monarchs haven’t visited Norfolk State since the 1968-69 season.
Radford trailed by 14 points at halftime but rallied to tie the game, taking its first lead of the game at 54-53 on Dante Moses’ layup.
NSU, though, held the Highlanders scoreless on their final two possessions, with Lawrence splitting his free throws around a
timeout before Kalagerias’ score.
Radford’s Dravon Mangum missed a 3-point attempt with 3 seconds remaining, and the Spartans rebounded it to secure the victory.
“It was a hard-fought win, and when you’re on the road, an ugly win is better than a pretty loss,” Norfolk State coach Robert Jones said. “We’ve been preaching defense the whole time, and today our defense carried us to the win.”
Kashaun Hicks and Daryl Anderson scored 12 points each to pace NSU, while Devante Carter added 10 points. NSU finished 9 of 18 from 3-point range and made 10 of 13 free throws.
Radford missed its first 12 shots of the game, and the Spartans pulled away with a 14-0 spurt midway through the first half. Hicks bolstered the run with three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt and a 3-pointer, while Carter drilled a 3-pointer to give put NSU ahead 20-5 with 8:50 left until halftime. Norfolk State led 34-20 at the break.
Quinton Morton-Robertson led Radford (0-2) with 12 points, followed by Mangum with 11. NORFOLK STATE 57, RADFORD 54
RADFORD (0-2): Mangum 3-12 4-8 11, C.Walker 2-5 2-3 6, Djonkam 0-1 0-0 0, Ali 3-8 1-2 9, Jeffers 1-9 2-2 4, Morton-Robertson 3-9 3-5 12, Lipscomb 3-3 3-5 10, Moses 1-1 0-0 2, Jules 0-0 0-0 0, Porter 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-49 15-25 54.
NORFOLK STATE (2-0): Matthews 1-4 0-0 2, Carter 4-15 1-2 10, Lawrence 1-5 2-2 4, Jenkins 1-3 1-2 4, Sidibe 0-4 0-0 0, Kalogerias 2-2 0-1 4, Chavis 2-4 2-2 7, Hicks 3-5 3-3 12, Anderson 4-6 1-1 12, Bryant 1-4 0-0 2, Ford 0-0 0-0 0, Chambers 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-53 10-13 57.
Half—NSU 34-20. 3-point goals—Radford 7-25 (Morton-Robertson 3-8, Ali 2-4, Lipscomb 1-1, Mangum 1-5, Porter 0-1, Jeffers 0-6), NSU 9-18 (Anderson 3-5, Hicks 3-5, Jenkins 1-1, Carter 1-2, Chavis 1-2, Bryant 0-1, Lawrence 0-2). Fouled out— Ali, Matthews. Rebounds—Radford 35 (C.Walker 10), NSU 30 (Kalogerias 6). Assists—Radford 7 (Morton-Robertson 4), NSU 12 (Carter 3). Fouls— Radford 19, NSU 19. A—150.