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The Norfolk State basketball team pulled out a 69-60 win over conference rival Morgan State on Monday to improve to 20-8 on the season. Fireworks were sparked near the end of the action thanks to Spartans guard Christian Ings.
Ings put on an in-game dunk contest during the final two minutes of play to put an exclamation point on the victory. Teammates lost their minds on the Norfolk State bench as they were held back by the coaching staff.
The Spartans led by two possessions late in the contest and hoped to close the door in the final moments. Ings made sure to slam it shut emphatically.
Around the 1:30-mark, he was seen blowing by a Morgan State defender with a vicious crossover before putting his helpless Bears teammate on a poster.
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The Spartans bench erupted on the sideline. One staff member fell to the ground in the chaos. It wouldn’t be the last moment of excitement in the arena.
With the game all but in hand, Christian Ings again made a highlight reel dunk. This time, it came in the form of a disrespectful windmill jam with less than 20 seconds left in regulation.
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Again, Norfolk teammates hopped up from their seats. In each instance, the coaching staff did a good job of containing emotions on the sidelines and ensuring no one interrupted play.
Rule 10 in the college basketball handbook touches on technical fouls as they relate to game delays. Many of those unanticipated stoppages can result in either a warning or technical foul.
- 10.4. – Class B Technical Fouls
- 1.m. A team member entering the playing court without reporting to the official scorers or a substitute entering the playing court without being beckoned by an official.
- 2.e.2. All bench personnel shall remain seated on the bench while the ball is live except… to spontaneously react to an outstanding play, immediately sitting down on the bench afterwards.
Norfolk State basketball coaches did their part in keeping the team on the bench amid the mayhem. It prevented Morgan State from inching closer with unearned free throws late in the action.
As for Christian Ings, he led the team in scoring thanks in part to those two incredible dunks. This season, the senior’s averaged 11.7 points per game on 50% shooting while also pacing the team in assists.
This campaign has solidified Ings’ comeback after having ACL surgery before the 2023-24 season. He was a human highlight reel on Monday and hopes to lead the Spartans to a MEAC Championship and NCAA Tournament berth this March.