ETTRICK, Va. – Senior Walter Williams, senior Jalen Jackson and senior Cyonte Melvin combined for 42 points, but it wasn't quite enough as Norfolk State University Spartans held off the Trojans men's basketball team to claim the 77-70 exhibition victory Friday night.

Williams tallied 17 points on 4-7 shooting, where he made his money on the night came at the foul line going 9-12. He also added four rebounds, one assist and one block. Jackson finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, in addition to two assists and one steal. Melvin went for 11 points on 2-4 shooting with one rebound and two assists and two steals.

The game did not count toward either team's record.
 
NSU outscored the Trojans 31-13 in points off turnovers, and VSU ended the night with 21 giveaways.
 
The Trojans never led in the game and trailed by as much as 17 in the first half. But they got the Spartan lead down to nine at the break and were within one twice in the second half.
 
The 17-point advantage came midway through the first half after NSU's 11-2 run extended the lead to 29-12 with 6:34 to go. NSU's Bryant had a 3-pointer and a 3-point play during that time, which came after the Spartans had scored the first seven points of the game and built a 10-point lead eight minutes into the contest.
 
The Trojans continued to fight and got the Spartan lead down to seven with a minute left before the Spartans took a 38-29 lead at the half.
 
VSU came back out with making the second half interesting. Following a dunk by NSU at the 15:26 mark, Virginia State answered by scoring the next 10 points of the game, covering a two-and-a-half-minute span. The Spartan lead stood at 46-45 at that point before a 3-pointer gave NSU a slight advantage.
 
Virginia State continued to fight. The Spartan lead was down to one again with a little less than eight minutes left. Another 3-point play and two free throws by NSU giving them the nine of the game's next 10 points.
 
Virginia State never got closer than six the rest of the way. Walter Williams made three free throws for the Trojans with just a few seconds left for the final margin.
 
Norfolk State held a 34-20 edge in points in the paint. The Spartans made 25-of-32 from the free throw line, while VSU was 24-of-31. The Trojans were held to 35 percent shooting in the second half as well as 40 percent overall. The Trojans went 8-of-19 from long range.
 
The Trojans will begin the regular season on Friday, November 9 as they travel to face Pittsburgh at Johnstown in Indiana, Pa. Tip-off is slated for 5:15 p.m. 

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