The Norfolk State Spartans are back in the NCAA Tournament

The Norfolk State University Men's basketball team

celebrating after defeating South Carolina State 66-65

in the 2025 MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament

Championship Game at the Norfolk, 

Virginia Scope Arena on March 15

(Wole Akinso/ Urban Sports Scene)

 

By Wole Akinso (@Wole_USS)

Norfolk, VA — After two years of falling short, the top-seeded Norfolk State Spartans finally broke through, winning the MEAC Men’s Basketball Tournament with a 66-65 victory over the second-seeded South Carolina State Bulldogs. The tournament championship secures the Spartans an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

 
Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones, who had already won two MEAC Tournament titles, faced disappointment in the past two seasons. Throughout the team's journey to this year's championship, Jones was well aware of the criticism from his detractors.

“I’m definitely excited about finishing the deal this time, because like I said there were a lot of detractors last year. I’m not one of those coaches that lie and say I don’t see the stuff on social media.  I see all of the stuff,” said coach Jones.

Led by senior guard Wilson Dubinsky, the Bulldogs were in control of the first half.  Dubinsky went 3 of 3 from the three-point line, which helped the Bulldogs gain a 34-23 lead at the half. 

The Bulldogs controlled the game until the second half. Norfolk played with a desperate energy that the Bulldogs struggled to match for most of the half. The Spartans appeared to be the faster, hungrier, and more aggressive team in the second half, which was evident in the free throw disparity—Norfolk went 19 of 26 from the line, while the Bulldogs managed just 7 of 9.

As the game progressed, the crowd at Norfolk Scope Arena grew increasingly louder. Spartan senior guard Christian Ings scored 14 points in the quarter, helping the Spartans regain the lead (51-49) for the first time since the 9:06 mark of the first half. Ings shared that his teammates encouraged him to stay in attack mode after a slow start in the first half.

“They were telling me throughout the game to stay in attack mode. Don’t worry, I know you’re making mistakes, but we’ll live with them.  We know you’re better than how you’re playing. Just stay with it, keep pushing, keep trying to attack, [and] keep making things happen.”

Ings finished the game with 16 points and seven rebounds.  With little over two-minutes left The Spartans pushed their lead to 61-51.  However, the MEAC Men’s Tournament Championship game was fair from over.

Dubinsky did not want to end his college basketball career on that court.  Dubinsky scored 12 points in under two-minutes to cut the Spartans lead to 65-63 with 12 seconds left.  The Bulldogs had hope and all the momentum.  The Scope arena turned quiet.

“He made every shot down the stretch,” said Coach Jones about Dubinsky.

Then, chaos erupted. The Bulldogs set up their full-court press, and guard Jayden Johnson stole the ball from Spartans guard Jaylani Darden. The ball deflected to Bulldogs forward Caleb McCarty, who made the game-tying layup with 10 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs' bench erupted in celebration, but in the ensuing inbound play, McCarty lost track of the situation and intentionally fouled Christian Ings. With the Spartans in the bonus, Ings made one of two free throws, leaving eight seconds on the clock. Johnson had a chance to win the game for the Bulldogs but missed his attempt. As the final buzzer sounded, McCarty collapsed to the floor in tears, but his teammates quickly gathered around to help him up and offer comfort.

Coach Jones was named the MEAC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Coach, while Norfolk State guard Brian Moore Jr. earned MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. The Spartans now await their seeding for the NCAA Tournament.