Recap: Norfolk State vs. Bethune-Cookman
Winston-Salem, NC (Sports Network) - Kyle O'Quinn scored 18 points, Pendarvis Williams supplied 17 points with nine rebounds and Norfolk State captured the MEAC title with a 73-70 victory over Bethune-Cookman.
Rob Johnson contributed 15 points for the second-seeded Spartans (25-9), who nearly squandered a 14-point second-half lead before hanging to secure their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Down by five, the Wildcats' Garrius Holloman tipped in an Adrien Coleman miss with 19.7 seconds remaining. O'Quinn then fell down after colliding with an opposing player, and the traveling violation gave the ball back to Bethune-Cookman with an opportunity to tie the game.
But Norfolk State prevailed when Holloman's bid from beyond the arc was off the mark.
Kevin Dukes had 18 points on 4-of-7 three-point shooting for fourth-seeded Bethune-Cookman (18-17), while Javoris Bryant finished with 15 points and seven boards.
Game NotesO'Quinn is the 2012 MEAC overall and defensive player of the year, the first player in league history to win both awards in the same year...Bethune-Cookman appeared in its first conference championship game since earning the 1980 SIAC title.
