NSU completes sweep over Hampton

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Chris McEachin scored a career-high 27 points and Kyle O’Quinn added 18 points and 18 rebounds as Norfolk State completed a season sweep of Hampton with a 70-62 victory on Saturday evening before a capacity crowd at Echols Hall.

 

McEachin hit 8-of-16 from the floor and 5-of-7 from behind the 3-point line for the Spartans (18-8, 10-2 MEAC). O’Quinn added four blocked shots for NSU, which swatted eight as a team.

 

Both teams shot under 40 percent in the physical, tightly-contested matchup between old rivals. NSU held the Pirates (8-16, 4-7) to 36 percent shooting and outrebounded them 48-35.

 

McEachin scored six straight early points to help NSU jump out in front 15-7. McEachin was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit all three foul shots, then hit a 3-pointer to give the Spartans the eight-point lead.

 

Hampton responded with a 20-2 run over the next seven minutes to take its largest lead of the game, at 27-17. Christopher Tolson hit three straight 3-pointers to cap the outburst.

 

This time, it was NSU’s turn in the see-saw first half, answering with a 10-0 run of its own. O’Quinn started it with an old-fashioned three-point play, then dunked to cut the lead in half. McEachin followed with a three-point play of his own and Marcos Tamares scored on a put-back to tie the game.

 

NSU took a 34-33 lead into the break after two Quasim Pugh free throws with one second left before the break.

 

The Spartans scored the first seven points of the second half to open up a 41-33 lead. Pendarvis Williams hit two jumpers sandwiched around a McEachin trey.

 

Hampton again answered, scoring the next eight points to tie it. The teams then traded field goals, but the Pirates couldn’t reclaim the lead. McEachin hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to help NSU again surge into the lead by eight, 53-45. The Pirates couldn’t get within six after that.

 

NSU sealed it at the line, hitting 19-of-23 (83 percent) for the game. McEachin was a perfect 6-of-6 and O’Quinn was 6-of-7.

 

Williams had nine points and seven rebounds for the Spartans. Rodney McCauley, who again handled the assignment of guarding Pellum, grabbed six boards and McEachin added five boards and three steals.