Second annual Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic takes over The Rock

The second annual Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic HBCU Invitational occurred on Saturday afternoon at Prudential Center. The two games in Newark celebrated historically black colleges and universities and their importance in the country's landscape. While basketball was to be played, the event's significance went far beyond the scope of sports.

Morgan State 75, Delaware State 65

It took Morgan State (12-10) to score their first points over five minutes into the game as Lewis Djonkam put the Bears on the board as they trailed 7-2 at the 14:35 mark of the first half. After a three from Brandon Stone to extend Delaware State's lead to eight, the Hornets went cold as Morgan State went on a 10-4 run and forced four Delaware State turnovers as the game was tied at 14 with 9:38 left in the first half.

The game hit an excellent flow midway through the half as both teams no longer had the nerves that came with a major event and started playing their games. Morgan State struggled shooting from the field, but Delaware State's carelessness with the ball kept the Bears in it. Morgan State took the lead after a Kamron Hobbs three-pointer as the guard scored eight points during a stretch that saw the Bears take a three-point lead.

The lead bounced back and forth as Morgan State extended its lead to eight after two straight treys from Corey Perkins and Rob Lawson and went into the half up 42-34, led by Hobbs' 15 first-half points.

Morgan State started the second half by making 5-of-7 shots to extend their lead to 52-37 with 15:50 left in regulation. On the other hand, Delaware State (4-17) went on a 1-of-7 stretch as they saw the game slipping away as the second half progressed. But just as the game seemed to be over, Morgan State went cold from the field as Delaware State began to make shots as they cut the lead down to ten with under ten minutes left in the second half.

Stone and Marta Robinson kept Delaware State in the game, but they could not get stops defensively, as they could only cut the deficit to eight points. Isiah Burke's five quick points finished off the Hornets as Morgan State picked up their 12th win of the season.

Hobbs finished with a game-high 22 points and Djonkam added 18 points and nine rebounds for Morgan State.

Robinson finished with a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds for Delaware State, who made their second consecutive appearance in the Legacy Classic.

Norfolk State 83, Hampton 71

Like the first game of the day with Morgan State, Norfolk State started slow, going 0-of-6 from the field, all three-point attempts, to start the second matchup of the day. Nyzaiah Chambers put the Spartans on the board with a dunk at the 15:26 mark of the first half. That started a 12-2 run for Norfolk State to take the early lead.

At the midway point of the first, both teams were beginning to shoot well from the field, but Hampton was hampered by six early turnovers, which gave Norfolk State the advantage. However, Marquise Godwin was putting on a show for the Pirates as he scored 12 points, all on threes, leading Hampton to a 28-21 lead with 4:17 left in the first half. On the other side, Joe Bryant Jr. was keeping the game close for Norfolk State hitting two treys of his own to keep the Spartans within striking distance.

Hampton (5-18) ended the first half shooting 62% from the field, led by Godwin, as they held a 36-35 lead at halftime, but Norfolk State had momentum as Dana Tate hit a buzzer-beating three to pull the Spartans to within one at intermission. Caheim Brown led the way for Norfolk State with 12 points.

Norfolk State came out on fire in the second half as they started 4-of-4 from the field, punctuated by a Kris Bankston alley-oop slam to give the Spartans a 44-41 lead. From there, the lead began to flip-flop back and forth as Norfolk State and Hampton started to roll offensively. Both teams were trading baskets as defense was a non-factor, with both teams making seemingly every shot they put up.

Norfolk State (16-7) was the team to step up defensively as a 16-2 run over 3:11 gave the Spartans a 64-51 lead with 9:11 left in regulation. Hampton picked up momentum after a three from Godwin to pull the Pirates to within eight at the 7:27 mark of the half. But Bryant Jr. scored five straight points to push the lead back to over double digits.

Bankston put down one more alley-oop dunk for good measure with 3:18 left as Norfolk State went on for the win in the finale of the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic at The Rock.

Bryant Jr. scored 29 points and Dana Tate poured in 21 points for Norfolk State's third straight win.

Godwin finished with a team-high 21 points for Hampton, while Jordan Nesbitt added 19 points.

Legacy Classic Brings Big Crowd To Newark

This year's event was a massive draw as the Michael B. Jordan-led event put on a great day of basketball and reflection. Deserving students received scholarships, HBCU bands pumped up the Prudential Center, and four teams received national exposure as the games were broadcast on TNT.

"It helps recruiting tremendously," said Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones. "The most important games we play is probably the nationally televised games. Our record is 16-7 but most people don't see those 16 wins so they don't really know what we do. When we get a chance to play on national TV, we want to win those games to show everyone that the 16-7 is not a fluke."