NORFOLK, Va. – Malcolm Hawkins scored 20 points and made 13 of 14 free throws, helping seal the game as Norfolk State edged Florida A&M 91-87 on Thursday night in the conference opener for both teams.
Norfolk State (6-3, 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) led 80-72 with two minutes to play, but Florida A&M (2-6, 0-1) scored six straight points to cut it to 80-78 with 1:01 remaining.
Florida A&M later made two 3-pointers in the final 37 seconds, cutting the Spartans' lead to 2 each time. But during that span Norfolk State hit 7 of 8 free throws to close the game. The Spartans shot a school-record 62 free throws, 41 of which they made.
Pendarvis Williams had 16 points and Anell Alexis and Riley Maye had 13 apiece as six Spartans scored in double figures. It was Norfolk State's 15th-straight home win.
Jamie Adams led Florida A&M with 24 points.
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