NORFOLK, Va. — Christian Ings led the charge with 19 points, guiding Norfolk State to a narrow 58-55 victory over Morgan State. This win on Friday night secured the Spartans a place in Saturday’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament final.
The championship game will see the top-seeded Spartans take on second-seeded South Carolina State, which emerged victorious against North Carolina Central in their semi-final matchup.
In the game, Ings showcased his skill by hitting 6 of 12 attempts from the floor, including 2 of 5 from beyond the arc, and successfully making 5 of 7 free throws. Teammate Brian Moore Jr. contributed significantly with 14 points, effectively going 6 for 14 in shooting, and grabbing five rebounds. Chris Fields Jr. played his part as well by scoring 8 points on a 4 of 9 shooting performance.
Morgan State, facing an uphill battle, was powered by Kameron Hobbs, who achieved 11 points during the game. Daniel Akitoby played a key role defensively with four blocks, adding 8 points to the cause, while Will Thomas also scored 8 points for the Bears.
Ings secured nine of his points in the initial half, during which Norfolk State ended up trailing 28-25 at the break. The Spartans managed a strong comeback in the second half, outscoring Morgan State by six points. Moore was instrumental in this rally, scoring 13 of his points in the latter half of the match.
