EL PASO, Texas (KFOX 14, CBS4) — Anthony McComb III scored 21 points to lead the Norfolk State Spartans to a 72-71 victory over the UTEP Miners in the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational on Thursday.
This is UTEP’s fifth straight loss, as the Miners fall to 3-7. NSU moves to 6-8.
NSU closed out the first half on a 14-4 run to take a 10 point lead going into the break. In the second half the Spartans led by as many as 13, but the Miners battled back and tied the game at 68 with 1:06 remaining. In the final minute McComb made two free throws to give NSU a 71-68 lead. UTEP drew up a play for Trey Horton III, but the junior missed the three pointer. McComb made two more free throws and despite a Kaseem Watson three, the Miners comeback would fall a point short.
“The tougher team won the basketball game tonight,” UTEP head coach Joe Golding said. “It started in the last 10 minutes of the first half, and they deserved the game. They made the tough plays. Credit to them, they’re a well-coached team. We’ve got to make winning plays and have guys step up. We can’t go 12-27 from the free-throw line. I’m the head coach. It starts with me.”
UTEP shot 47.3% from the floor and out rebounded NSU 38-33. However, the Miners struggled mightily at the free throw line shooting 44.4.% (12-27).
For the Miners, Caleb Blackwell scored a career high 18 points and had 7 assists.
Jamal West Jr. put up a double-double 16 points and 13 rebounds.
For NSU, McComb scored the 21 points and had 5 rebounds.
On Monday, NSU will face UC Irvine in the championship game at 7pm. UTEP will take on North Dakota State in the consolation game at 5pm.