COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (Interstat) — Elijah Jamison scored 30 points to lead Norfolk State to an 82-72 victory over Jackson State in the Chris Paul HBCU Classic on Friday night. The Spartans built a commanding 42-29 halftime lead and withstood a second-half push from the Tigers. Jackson State’s Daeshun Ruffin scored 25 points and Jayme Mitchell added 19, but the rally fell short. Jamison, who also had four assists, was supported by Anthony McComb’s 19 points and Adrean Newton’s 10 points and seven assists for Norfolk State (5-8). Jackson State dropped to 1-11 with the loss before an announced crowd of 375 at the neutral-site event.

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (Interstat) — Elijah Jamison scored 30 points and Norfolk State built a commanding early lead before holding off a frantic second-half rally from Jackson State to secure an 82-72 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at Gateway Center Arena. The Spartans (5-8) dominated the first half, shooting 48.4% from the field and capitalizing on 10 Jackson State turnovers to take a 42-29 lead into the break. The Tigers (1-11), who have now lost 11 consecutive games, struggled to find any offensive rhythm early, shooting just 32.3% in the opening period. Jamison, a 6-foot-3 guard from Louisburg, North Carolina, was the catalyst for Norfolk State’s strong start. He poured in 18 of his game-high 30 points in the first half, connecting on three 3-pointers and going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line for the game. His performance continued a string of strong outings, following 26 points against Grambling just one day earlier. The most important stretch of the game came early, as Norfolk State established control. After Jackson State’s Jayme Mitchell opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, the Spartans responded with a 15-2 run over the next five minutes. Jamison scored seven points during the surge, which was capped by a Devon Ellis jump shot that gave Norfolk State a 15-5 lead with 16:53 remaining in the half. The Tigers never got closer than seven points for the remainder of the half, as the Spartans’ defense consistently generated stops and their offense executed efficiently. Jackson State showed significant fight after halftime, outscoring Norfolk State 43-40 in the second period. The Tigers chipped away at the deficit, fueled by the dynamic play of guard Daeshun Ruffin. The Jackson, Mississippi, native scored 19 of his 25 points after intermission, helping his team cut the Norfolk State lead to single digits on multiple occasions. A Ruffin layup with 46 seconds remaining brought Jackson State within 67-65, marking the closest the game had been since the opening minutes. However, Norfolk State’s composure at the free-throw line sealed the victory. The Spartans made 20 of 24 attempts overall, including critical makes down the stretch. After Ruffin’s basket made it a two-point game, Anthony McComb was fouled and sank both free throws. Following a Jackson State miss, Jamison was fouled and also converted a pair from the line to push the lead back to six with 20 seconds left, effectively ending the comeback threat. McComb finished with 19 points for Norfolk State, while Adrean Newton added 10 points and a team-high seven assists. The Spartans shot 44.8% from the field and 43.5% from 3-point range. For Jackson State, Mitchell supported Ruffin with 19 points. Dorian McMillian added 11 points and five assists. The Tigers won the rebounding battle 40-33, including a 10-9 edge on the offensive glass, but were undone by 16 turnovers and 38.5% shooting in the first half. The game was part of a multi-team event, with an announced attendance of 375 at the neutral-site venue. Norfolk State will look to build momentum when it faces UTEP on Sunday. Jackson State, still searching for its second win, next plays at TCU on Dec. 29.