South Carolina State Falls Short in MEAC Final, Misses NCAA Tournament Bid Due to Costly Foul in Tied Game

In a heartbreaking turn of events on Saturday, South Carolina State’s hopes of securing the MEAC’s automatic NCAA tournament bid were dashed in the final moments of their game against Norfolk State. With just eight seconds left in regulation, Caleb McCarty committed a costly reach-in foul on Norfolk State’s Christian Ings after McCarty had just tied the game at 65-65 with a layup. McCarty had capitalized on a steal attempt by Jayden Johnson, but in a critical lapse, he fouled Ings as he advanced the ball up the court, likely unaware that the score was tied.

Instead of sending Norfolk State to the foul line to stop the clock and potentially regain possession, McCarty’s foul gave Ings two free throws. Ings made one of two, putting Norfolk State ahead 66-65. The Bulldogs still had a chance, as Drayton Jones grabbed the rebound from Ings’ missed free throw, setting up Johnson for a potential game-winner. Unfortunately, Johnson’s shot fell short at the buzzer, handing Norfolk State the 66-65 victory and the MEAC’s automatic NCAA bid.

Christian Ings led Norfolk State with 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Brian Moore Jr. added 16 points and seven rebounds, along with two steals. The Spartans, who finished the season 24-10 and 11-3 in the MEAC, now await their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2022.

For South Carolina State, who held a 34-25 lead at halftime, Wilson Dubinsky had a standout performance, scoring a game-high 24 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range. Omar Croskey was the only other Bulldog in double digits, contributing 10 points. Despite their strong performance, South Carolina State finishes the season with a 20-13 record, also 11-3 in the MEAC, and will have to wait another year to break their 22-year NCAA tournament drought.