MORGAN

NORFLK

Top-seed Norfolk State defeats Morgan State 58-55. advances to MEAC championship game

AP
Mar 14, 2025

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Christian Ings scored 19 points and top-seeded Norfolk State Spartans held off No. 5 Morgan State Bears 58-55 Friday night to earn a spot in Saturday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament championship game.

The Spartans will face second-seeded South Carolina State, which beat sixth-seeded North Carolina Central, in Saturday's championship contest.

Ings shot 6 of 12 from the field, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 7 from the line for the Spartans (21-10, 2-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). Brian Moore Jr. scored 14 points while shooting 6 for 14 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 1 of 3 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds. Chris Fields Jr. had eight points and went 4 of 9 from the field.

The Bears (13-17, 1-1) were led by Kameron Hobbs, who recorded 11 points. Daniel Akitoby added eight points and four blocks for Morgan State. Will Thomas had eight points.

Ings scored nine points in the first half and Norfolk State went into halftime trailing 28-25. Norfolk State outscored Morgan State by six points in the second half. Moore led the way with 13 second-half points.

---

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

1st Half
MORG
Bears
28
NORF
Spartans
25

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Bears gains possession)
19:51		Will Thomas misses three point jump shot
19:49		Daniel Akitoby offensive rebound
19:43	+2	Daniel Akitoby makes two point layup	2-0
19:28		Christian Ings turnover (lost ball) (Kameron Hobbs steals)
19:12		Kameron Hobbs misses three point jump shot
19:10		Brian Moore Jr. defensive rebound
19:05		Kiran Oliver personal foul
18:52	+2	Christian Ings makes two point jump shot	2-2
18:30		Jaylani Darden blocks Kiran Oliver's two point layup
18:28		Jaylani Darden defensive rebound
18:19		Brian Moore Jr. misses two point jump shot
18:17		Bears defensive rebound
17:57		Kameron Hobbs turnover (traveling)
17:30	+3	Christian Ings makes three point jump shot (Brian Moore Jr. assists)	2-5
16:56	+2	Rob Lawson makes two point layup	4-5
16:28		Christian Ings misses two point jump shot
16:26		Jalen Myers offensive rebound
16:20	+2	Jalen Myers makes two point layup	4-7
16:05	+3	Kiran Oliver makes three point jump shot (Rob Lawson assists)	7-7
15:41		Jaylani Darden misses two point layup
15:39		Kuluel Mading offensive rebound
15:38		Will Thomas personal foul
15:38		TV timeout
15:29		Jalen Myers misses two point jump shot
15:27		Kiran Oliver defensive rebound
15:06		Kameron Hobbs misses two point jump shot
15:04		Jalen Myers defensive rebound
14:54		Daniel Akitoby personal foul
14:47		Christian Ings misses three point jump shot
14:45		Amahrie Simpkins defensive rebound
14:23		Kameron Hobbs misses two point jump shot
14:21		Kuluel Mading defensive rebound
13:49	+2	Chris Fields Jr. makes two point jump shot (Jaylani Darden assists)	7-9
13:35		Amahrie Simpkins turnover (lost ball) (Brian Moore Jr. steals)
13:20		Chris Fields Jr. misses two point layup
13:18		Trent Edwards defensive rebound
13:04		Kuluel Mading shooting foul (Will Thomas draws the foul)
13:04	+1	Will Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2	8-9
13:04	+1	Will Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2	9-9
12:47		Jaylani Darden misses two point layup
12:45		Will Thomas defensive rebound
12:24		Kameron Hobbs misses two point jump shot
12:22		Tyrel Bladen defensive rebound
12:11	+3	Christian Ings makes three point jump shot (Terrance Jones assists)	9-12
12:11		Will Thomas shooting foul (Christian Ings draws the foul)
12:11	+1	Christian Ings makes regular free throw 1 of 1	9-13
12:01		Tyrel Bladen shooting foul (Kiran Oliver draws the foul)
12:01		TV timeout
12:01	+1	Kiran Oliver makes regular free throw 1 of 2	10-13
12:01	+1	Kiran Oliver makes regular free throw 2 of 2	11-13
11:33		Daniel Akitoby blocks Chris Fields Jr.'s two point layup
11:31		Kiran Oliver defensive rebound
11:17	+2	Daniel Akitoby makes two point jump shot (Amahrie Simpkins assists)	13-13
10:43	+2	Tyrel Bladen makes two point jump shot	13-15
10:27		Rob Lawson turnover (bad pass)
10:01		Terrance Jones misses three point jump shot
9:59		Terrance Jones offensive rebound
9:53		Terrance Jones turnover (bad pass)
9:35		Rob Lawson misses three point jump shot
9:33		Brian Moore Jr. defensive rebound
9:29		Kiran Oliver personal foul
9:20		Brian Moore Jr. misses two point jump shot
9:18		Jaden Martin defensive rebound
9:09		Rob Lawson misses two point layup
9:07		Tyrel Bladen defensive rebound
8:59	+2	Sin'Cere McMahon makes two point layup	13-17
8:48		Amahrie Simpkins misses two point jump shot
8:46		Terrance Jones defensive rebound
8:39		Brian Moore Jr. misses three point jump shot
8:37		Amahrie Simpkins defensive rebound
8:31	+2	Amahrie Simpkins makes two point layup (Kameron Hobbs assists)	15-17
8:05		Brian Moore Jr. misses two point layup
8:03		Daniel Akitoby defensive rebound
7:56		Jalen Myers personal foul
7:56		TV timeout
7:53	+2	Jaden Martin makes two point jump shot	17-17
7:38		Tytan Newton personal foul
7:26		Trent Edwards blocks Jalen Myers's two point layup
7:24		Bears defensive rebound
7:24		Jalen Myers personal foul
7:14		Trent Edwards misses two point layup
7:12		Trent Edwards offensive rebound
7:03	+2	Trent Edwards makes two point layup	19-17
6:55		Christian Ings misses three point jump shot
6:53		Kameron Hobbs defensive rebound
6:46		Kameron Hobbs turnover (lost ball) (Chris Fields Jr. steals)
6:37		Chris Fields Jr. turnover (bad pass)
6:16	+2	Jaden Martin makes two point layup (Daniel Akitoby assists)	21-17
5:58		Daniel Akitoby blocks Brian Moore Jr.'s three point jump shot
5:56		Brian Moore Jr. offensive rebound
5:43		Tytan Newton personal foul (Brian Moore Jr. draws the foul)
5:43		Brian Moore Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:43	+1	Brian Moore Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	21-18
5:28	+3	Kameron Hobbs makes three point jump shot	24-18
5:15		Kuluel Mading misses two point layup
5:13		Tytan Newton defensive rebound
5:01		Daniel Akitoby turnover (3-second violation)
4:52		Jaylani Darden offensive foul
4:52		Jaylani Darden turnover (offensive foul)
4:24		Jaden Martin misses two point layup
4:22		Bears offensive rebound
4:14		Bears turnover (shot clock violation)
4:02		Christian Ings turnover (traveling)
4:00		Kuluel Mading blocks Amahrie Simpkins's two point layup
3:58		Christian Ings defensive rebound
3:47		Christian Ings turnover (Amahrie Simpkins steals)
3:47		Amahrie Simpkins misses two point layup
3:45		Spartans defensive rebound
3:45		TV timeout
3:34		Amahrie Simpkins blocks Kuluel Mading's two point layup
3:32		Amahrie Simpkins defensive rebound
3:12		Kiran Oliver misses two point layup
3:10		Jaylani Darden defensive rebound
3:10		Kiran Oliver personal foul (Jaylani Darden draws the foul)
3:10	+1	Jaylani Darden makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-19
3:10	+1	Jaylani Darden makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-20
2:53		Rob Lawson misses two point jump shot
2:51		Daniel Akitoby offensive rebound
2:51		Daniel Akitoby turnover (out of bounds)
2:44	+2	Kuluel Mading makes two point layup (Jaylani Darden assists)	24-22
2:44		Daniel Akitoby shooting foul (Kuluel Mading draws the foul)
2:44	+1	Kuluel Mading makes regular free throw 1 of 1	24-23
2:26		Tytan Newton turnover
2:16	+2	Chris Fields Jr. makes two point layup	24-25
2:07		Kuluel Mading blocks Tytan Newton's two point layup
2:05		Chris Fields Jr. defensive rebound
1:56		Chris Fields Jr. turnover (Jaden Martin steals)
1:44	+2	Amahrie Simpkins makes two point layup	26-25
1:10		Spartans turnover (shot clock violation)
1:01		Spartans 30 second timeout
0:50		Tytan Newton misses two point jump shot
0:48		Jaylani Darden defensive rebound
0:40		Spartans 30 second timeout
0:20		Jaden Martin blocks Jaylani Darden's two point jump shot
0:18		Spartans offensive rebound
0:14		Jaylani Darden turnover (bad pass)
0:06	+2	Amahrie Simpkins makes two point dunk (Kameron Hobbs assists)	28-25
0:00		Terrance Jones misses three point jump shot
0:00		Amahrie Simpkins defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MORG
Bears
27
NORF
Spartans
33

Time		Play	Score
19:43	+2	Brian Moore Jr. makes two point jump shot	28-27
19:18		Will Thomas misses three point jump shot
19:16		Brian Moore Jr. defensive rebound
19:09		Rob Lawson personal foul
19:06		Jalen Myers misses two point layup
19:04		Kiran Oliver defensive rebound
18:53	+2	Daniel Akitoby makes two point layup (Will Thomas assists)	30-27
18:29		Brian Moore Jr. misses two point layup
18:27		Rob Lawson defensive rebound
18:17		Kiran Oliver misses two point layup
18:15		Daniel Akitoby offensive rebound
18:08	+2	Daniel Akitoby makes two point layup	32-27
17:50		Daniel Akitoby personal foul
17:42	+2	Brian Moore Jr. makes two point layup	32-29
17:32		Jalen Myers shooting foul (Jaden Martin draws the foul)
17:32	+1	Jaden Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	33-29
17:32	+1	Jaden Martin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-29
17:17		Christian Ings misses three point jump shot
17:15		Jaylani Darden offensive rebound
17:08	+2	Jaylani Darden makes two point layup	34-31
17:04		Christian Ings shooting foul (Kameron Hobbs draws the foul)
17:04	+1	Kameron Hobbs makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-31
17:04	+1	Kameron Hobbs makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-31
16:49	+2	Christian Ings makes two point layup	36-33
16:33		Kameron Hobbs misses three point jump shot
16:31		Chris Fields Jr. defensive rebound
16:23		Kiran Oliver personal foul
16:16	+2	Christian Ings makes two point jump shot	36-35
15:49		Amahrie Simpkins turnover (bad pass)
15:49		TV timeout
15:40		Chris Fields Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Tytan Newton steals)
15:21		Jaden Martin turnover (traveling)
14:46		Chris Fields Jr. turnover
14:46		Kuluel Mading shooting foul (Jaden Martin draws the foul)
14:46		Jaden Martin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:46	+1	Jaden Martin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-35
14:28		Chris Fields Jr. misses two point jump shot
14:26		Chris Fields Jr. offensive rebound
14:21		Tytan Newton personal foul
14:16		Chris Fields Jr. turnover (Tytan Newton steals)
14:09		Kameron Hobbs misses two point jump shot
14:07		Chris Fields Jr. defensive rebound
13:59	+2	Chris Fields Jr. makes two point layup (Jaylani Darden assists)	37-37
13:29		Amahrie Simpkins misses two point jump shot
13:27		Chris Fields Jr. defensive rebound
13:19		Kameron Hobbs shooting foul (Christian Ings draws the foul)
13:19		Christian Ings misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:19	+1	Christian Ings makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-38
13:07		Will Thomas misses two point jump shot
13:05		Chris Fields Jr. defensive rebound
12:45	+2	Jaylani Darden makes two point layup	37-40
12:32	+2	Will Thomas makes two point jump shot	39-40
12:27		Bears 30 second timeout
12:27		TV timeout
12:13		Daniel Akitoby shooting foul (Christian Ings draws the foul)
12:13	+1	Christian Ings makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-41
12:13	+1	Christian Ings makes regular free throw 2 of 2	39-42
11:41		Will Thomas misses three point jump shot
11:39		Chris Fields Jr. defensive rebound
11:18		Jaylani Darden turnover (traveling)
11:18		TV timeout
11:06		Kameron Hobbs turnover (lost ball) (Jaylani Darden steals)
11:00		Kameron Hobbs shooting foul (Christian Ings draws the foul)
11:00	+1	Christian Ings makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-43
11:00		Christian Ings misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:00		Will Thomas defensive rebound
10:36	+2	Will Thomas makes two point layup (Tytan Newton assists)	41-43
10:12		Trent Edwards blocks Tyrel Bladen's two point layup
10:10		Terrance Jones offensive rebound
10:01		Jaylani Darden misses two point jump shot
9:59		Will Thomas defensive rebound
9:36		Will Thomas misses three point jump shot
9:34		Jaden Martin offensive rebound
9:26		Kameron Hobbs turnover (bad pass)
9:06		Trent Edwards blocks Kuluel Mading's two point dunk
9:04		Kameron Hobbs defensive rebound
8:52		Jalen Myers shooting foul (Trent Edwards draws the foul)
8:52	+1	Trent Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-43
8:52	+1	Trent Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-43
8:32		Christian Ings misses two point jump shot
8:30		Bears defensive rebound
8:14		Will Thomas misses two point jump shot
8:12		Amahrie Simpkins offensive rebound
8:01		Amahrie Simpkins misses three point jump shot
7:59		Christian Ings defensive rebound
7:50	+2	Brian Moore Jr. makes two point jump shot	43-45
7:27		Jaden Martin misses two point jump shot
7:25		Amahrie Simpkins offensive rebound
7:20		Kameron Hobbs misses three point jump shot
7:18		Christian Ings defensive rebound
7:12	+2	Chris Fields Jr. makes two point layup (Brian Moore Jr. assists)	43-47
6:48	+2	Kameron Hobbs makes two point layup	45-47
6:25	+2	Brian Moore Jr. makes two point jump shot	45-49
6:07	+2	Kameron Hobbs makes two point jump shot	47-49
5:47		Brian Moore Jr. misses two point jump shot
5:45		Amahrie Simpkins defensive rebound
5:38		Kameron Hobbs misses two point layup
5:36		Terrance Jones defensive rebound
5:15		Christian Ings misses two point layup
5:13		Kuluel Mading offensive rebound
5:08	+2	Kuluel Mading makes two point layup	47-51
5:08		Spartans 30 second timeout
5:08		TV timeout
4:52		Daniel Akitoby misses two point jump shot
4:50		Brian Moore Jr. defensive rebound
4:25	+3	Brian Moore Jr. makes three point jump shot (Terrance Jones assists)	47-54
4:08		Jaylani Darden blocks Amahrie Simpkins's two point layup
4:06		Amahrie Simpkins offensive rebound
4:01		Bears 30 second timeout
4:01		TV timeout
3:57		Kameron Hobbs misses three point jump shot
3:55		Chris Fields Jr. defensive rebound
3:51		Chris Fields Jr. turnover (Trent Edwards steals)
3:36	+2	Will Thomas makes two point layup	49-54
3:19		Chris Fields Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:17		Terrance Jones offensive rebound
3:04		Trent Edwards blocks Terrance Jones's two point layup
3:02		Kameron Hobbs defensive rebound
2:57	+2	Kameron Hobbs makes two point jump shot	51-54
2:30		Terrance Jones misses three point jump shot
2:28		Jaylani Darden offensive rebound
2:15	+2	Christian Ings makes two point jump shot	51-56
2:02		Chris Fields Jr. shooting foul (Tytan Newton draws the foul)
2:02		Tytan Newton misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:02	+1	Tytan Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	52-56
1:46		Daniel Akitoby blocks Chris Fields Jr.'s two point layup
1:44		Daniel Akitoby defensive rebound
1:26		Kameron Hobbs misses two point jump shot
1:24		Jaylani Darden defensive rebound
1:19	+2	Brian Moore Jr. makes two point dunk (Jaylani Darden assists)	52-58
1:01		Jalen Myers blocks Rob Lawson's two point jump shot
0:59		Rob Lawson offensive rebound
0:59	+2	Rob Lawson makes two point layup	54-58
0:59		Jalen Myers shooting foul (Rob Lawson draws the foul)
0:59	+1	Rob Lawson makes regular free throw 1 of 1	55-58
0:53		Bears 60 second timeout
0:33		Daniel Akitoby blocks Brian Moore Jr.'s two point jump shot
0:31		Spartans offensive rebound
0:31		Spartans turnover (shot clock violation)
0:21		Rob Lawson misses three point jump shot
0:19		Spartans defensive rebound
0:13		Rob Lawson personal foul (Brian Moore Jr. draws the foul)
0:13		Brian Moore Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:13		Will Thomas defensive rebound
0:07		Bears 60 second timeout
0:01		Kameron Hobbs misses three point jump shot
0:00		Rob Lawson offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Rob Lawson offensive rebound