The Norfolk State Spartans and the Baylor Bears meet in college basketball action from the Ferrell Center on Friday night.
The Norfolk State Spartans will look to build on their 2-0 start to the year after an 87-59 win over Cairn last time out. Dana Tate Jr., Kris Bankston, Christian Ings and Cahiem Brown each had 16 points, with Tate Jr. going 6 of 10 from the field, with 4 threes, while Bankston shot 7 of 8 with a team-high 13 rebounds for the double-double. Ings shot 5 of 8 with 3 steals and Brown shot 6 of 11 with 4 rebounds. Joe Bryant Jr. added 15 points to cap off the scoring in double figures for Norfolk State in the win.
The Baylor Bears will try to build on their 117-53 win over Mississippi Valley State last time out. Adam Flagler led the way with 21 points on 6 of 9 shooting with 4 threes and a team-high 8 assists while LJ Cryer had 16 points on 5 of 11 shooting with 4 threes. Dale Bonner added 14 points on 5 of 6 shooting with 3 threes and 6 assists while Langston Love, Jalen Bridges and Keyonte George each had 13 points with George logging 7 assists while Love had 8 rebounds to cap off the scoring in double figures in the win. Flo Thamba also added a team-high 10 rebounds as well in the winning effort.
Norfolk State is 10-1 ATS in their last 11 Friday games and 23-11-1 ATS in their last 35 games overall while the over is 4-0 in their last 4 games following a win by 20+ points. Baylor is 2-5 Ats in their last 7 Friday games and 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 games following an ATS win while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 games overall.
I get the case to be made for an underdog in some spots, but this is not one of them. As good of a team as Norfolk State is for the MEAC, they’re just in a whole different atmosphere when they’re taking on Baylor here. The Bears usually have a couple of these lesser games early on in their schedule and it doesn’t seem to matter as the Bears usually break out the beating stick in each of them. I look for this game to be no different and for Baylor to win in a rout.