Hampton beats Norfolk State 86-76, stretches lead atop MEAC
HAMPTON, Va. (AP) Reginald Johnson Jr. scored 29 points to lead Hampton to an 86-76 victory over Norfolk State on Saturday night.
The Pirates (12-8, 8-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) bounced back from their first conference loss, 67-62 to South Carolina State on Jan. 25 to push their lead to a game and a half over Norfolk State (10-13, 6-2) atop the MEAC.
Johnson was 10 of 20 from the floor. Brian Darden and Quinton Chievous chipped 16 points apiece for Hampton.
Jeff Short scored 23 points and D'Shon Taylor added 17 for the Spartans, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.
Short made a pair of free throws to give Norfolk State its last lead, 60-59 with nine minutes left. Johnson scored 11 points as part of an 18-6 spurt and Hampton led 77-66 with 2:33 left and cruised from there.
