BALTIMORE, Md. (Courtesy of NSU Athletics) — Six Spartans scored in double-figures in a 79-63 win at Coppin State on Saturday evening.

Brian Moore Jr. led all scorers with 14 points, adding three rebounds, two assists, and two blocks to his totals. Jalen Myers (12), Terrance Jones (12), Kuluel Mading (11), Christian Ings (10), and Chris Fields Jr. (10) also scored in double-figures.

Norfolk State got off to a tremendous start, opening the contest on a 9-0 run capped off by an Ings layup to force an Eagles timeout. Coppin State cut into the deficit, scoring the next six points of the game. Moore used a step back jumper to end the scoring drought, putting the Spartans back up by six.

The Spartans continued their dominance on the offensive side of the ball, with Moore driving to the hoop, getting fouled and sinking a free throw with 11:21 left to play in the first half. Sin’Cere McMahon hit a 3-pointer on the following possession, extending the Spartans advantage to 14.

NSU used a strong defensive effort over the next five minutes, holding the Eagles to just five points. Fields drove to the rim for a turnaround layup, allowing the Spartans to gain a 26-14 edge with 4:44 left in the first half. Derrius Ward drilled a 3-pointer to halt the Spartans’ momentum, before Mading answered right back with a 3-pointer of his own.

The two teams traded baskets down the stretch of the first half, before Jones got to the rim for a layup, giving Norfolk State a 39-22 lead heading into the locker room.

Norfolk State dominated the first four minutes of the second half, going on a 12-4 run to extend the lead to 23 points. Jones hit a wide open 3-pointer from the right corner to put the Spartans up 51-28. Khali Horton answered right back with a 3-pointer of his own to stop the NSU momentum.

Moore showed off his speed, getting by the defense and taking the ball to the hoop just before the second media timeout of the second half. Both squads stayed with each other offensively following the timeout, before McMahon found Melo Baines for a layup to force a CSU timeout with 7:44 left to play.

Ward sunk a 3-pointer for the Eagles coming out of the media timeout to try to gain some momentum. Baines silenced the Coppin State crowd, throwing down a wide-open dunk to put NSU ahead 64-45.

The two teams traded baskets for the next three minutes of the game, before Ward drained his sixth 3-pointer of the game for the Eagles. Ings answered back, sinking a shot from behind the arc, giving NSU a 73-59 advantage with 2:29 left in the game.

Norfolk State went on to put the game away at the free throw line, with Fields making the last four free throws, allowing NSU to pick up the 79-53 road win.

Checking the Box Score

• Brian Moore Jr. led NSU with 14 points, adding three rebounds, two assists, and two blocks to his totals
• Jalen Myers (12), Terrance Jones (12), Kuluel Mading (11), Christian Ings (10) , and Chris Fields Jr. (10) all added double-figures in the win
• Norfolk State went 24-of-33 at the free throw line (72.7 percent)
• NSU outrebounded CSU 36-29
• The Spartans dominated the paint, scoring 32 points
• NSU shot 52.17 percent in the second half (12-of-23)
• Norfolk State never trailed in the win

News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 19-8 with the win (9-1 MEAC)
• Coppin State fell to 4-21 with the loss (2-8 MEAC)
• NSU now leads the all-time series 44-15
• NSU had six players in double-figures, the team’s most since Feb. 3, 2025, vs. North Carolina Central
• Terrance Jones tied his career high with eight rebounds

Up Next
Norfolk State returns to Echols Hall on Monday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. against Morgan State for Senior Day.

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State forward Kierra Wheeler dominated both ends of the floor on Saturday afternoon, scoring 28 points to lead the Spartans (23-4, 10-0 MEAC) past Coppin State (16-10, 7-3) at the CSU Physical Education Complex Arena.

Wheeler finished the day with 28 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and one steal, shooting 12-of-18 from the floor and 3-of-3 at the free throw line. Diamond Johnson added 13 points, nine rebounds and seven steals as the Spartans picked up their 12^th consecutive win.

Norfolk State jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, although both teams played tough defensively from the opening tip. An and-one score from Makoye Diawara put NSU ahead 6-3, before the Spartans expanded the gap with back-to-back baskets from Anjanae Richardson and Johnson.

Wheeler wasted no time getting going. The 2023-24 MEAC Player of the Year scored nine points in the first period, giving Norfolk State a 19-10 lead going into the second quarter.

Richardson knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing, before scoring in the lane a minute later. Wheeler made Coppin State pay on a wide-open mid-range jumper, knocking it down with ease to put Norfolk State ahead 28-13.

The Spartans’ lead reached as much as 19 in the first half, but Coppin State wouldn’t go away that quickly. The Eagles ended the second quarter on an 8-0 run, trimming the deficit to 34-23 at the break.

Norfolk State quickly took back the reigns in the driver’s seat, opening the half on a 10-4 run. Wheeler continued to put on a clinic, getting to the rim at will and showing her versatility with a nothing-but-net 3-pointer.

Wheeler reached 28 points before the end of the third quarter, as the Spartans quickly began to pull away. The senior forward checked out of the game with four minutes to play in the fourth quarter and Norfolk State holding a 66-43 lead.

Johnson extended her double-figure scoring streak to 31 games with a mid-range jumper in the final minutes, knocking down a 3-pointer shortly after. Ciara Bailey and Jenesis Hill added baskets off the bench to put the final touches on the emphatic victory.

Checking The Box Score

• Kierra Wheeler led the Spartans with 28 points, adding seven rebounds and two blocks
• Diamond Johnson recorded 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven steals
• Wheeler and Anjanae Richardson each scored 13 points in the first half
• Norfolk State shot 49.2 percent from the floor (31-of-63), holding Coppin State to a 36.4 percent clip (20-of-55_
• NSU outscored CSU 40-16 in the paint
• Norfolk State never trailed on Saturday

News & Notes

• Norfolk State improved to 23-4 with the win, 10-0 in MEAC play
• Coppin State dropped to 16-10 with the loss, 7-3 in the MEAC
• Coppin State now leads the all-time series with NSU 30-20
• NSU has won the last seven meetings against the Eagles
• With Jackson State’s loss to Alcorn State on Saturday, Norfolk State now holds the second-longest active home win streak (25 games), behind only Princeton

UP NEXT

Norfolk State returns home for Senior Night at Joseph G. Echols Hall, facing Morgan State on Monday, Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m.