NSU defeats VCU 63-60
Fred Jeter | 12/7/2023, 6 p.m.
Norfolk State probably felt like painting the town green and gold last Friday.
In a head-spinning upset, the visitors defeated VCU, 63-60, in front of a partisan, sold out crowd of nearly 8,000 at the Siegel Center.
“It was a great program win over an in-state rival,” said NSU Coach Robert Jones. “It was a tough environment, but our guys banded together and got it done.”
NSU was a 12.5-point betting-line underdog. On the KenPom national rankings, VCU was No. 83 coming in; NSU No. 253.
Actually, it was the “paint” that was the difference. NSU outscored the Rams by a resounding 40-18 in points in the paint.
Allen Betrand and Jamari Thomas had 17 points each for NSU, which improved to 6-3.
It was NSU’s first win over the Rams since 1972 when the Spartans defeated VCU at the Coliseum. The overall record now is 4-2, Rams’ favor.
It also marked VCU’s first loss to an HBCU since falling at Hampton in 2007. Before that, the last HBCU loss for VCU was in 1973 to Virginia Union, at Franklin Street Gym.
The Rams fall to 4-4 despite 15 points from Zeb Jackson, 14 from Max Shulga and 11 from former John Marshall standout Jason Nelson.
VCU had momentum coming in from a win over Penn State in Orlando but couldn’t handle the green and
gold. The Rams will host two more HBCU’s – Alcorn, Miss., Dec. 10 and Maryland-Eastern Shore Dec. 22.
