Norfolk St. 54, Howard 52

3/3/2008 10:08 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -Corey Lyons scored 14 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer in the final minute, to help Norfolk State come from behind for a 54-52 win against Howard.

Tony Murphy led the Spartans with 17 points. Michael Deloach hit two free throws with 3.5 seconds left to give Norfolk State (15-13, 11-4 MEAC) the winning margin.

Eugene Myatt scored 17 points to lead Howard (6-24, 3-12) and Randy Hampton added 12.

After Lyon's 3-pointer with 46 seconds left tied the score 52-52, Howard held the ball until less than 10 seconds remained on the shot clock. Driving, Myatt lost control of the ball and it ended up in the hands of Howard's Curtis White. White's 3-point attempt as the shot clock expired missed, and the rebound went to Norfolk State.

Deloach was then fouled attempting a shot under the basket and made both free throws. Howard's Jeron Smith attempted a last-second, off-balance 3-point attempt but was far short of the mark.

Howard led nearly the entire game, opening up a big lead in the first half. After a 9-0 run, the Bison were up 21-12 with 6 minutes to play in the half. About a minute later, Curtis White's 3-pointer put Howard up 24-14, the Bison's biggest lead of the game.

Norfolk State didn't stay down long. The Spartans trailed 27-23 at the half and took a 31-30 lead with 18 minutes left in the game.

Howard pulled ahead again at that point with a 12-3 run and held on to its lead until the final seconds.

It was the final home game of the season for Howard. All but one of the Bison's wins this year have come at home, as they finish with a 5-5 home mark.