Norfolk State men blow late lead at home, fall to William & Mary

NORFOLK — When Robert Jones spoke last week about how early success could “move the culture forward,” he wasn’t just speaking in clichés.

With a brand-new roster still learning his system, he believed the first week of the season — and a chance to start 3-0 — would be a litmus test for how quickly this team could buy into the standard.

Saturday night was that test. And for long stretches, Norfolk State looked like a team still discovering itself, but beginning to lean into that belief.

But the Spartans never reached the 3-0 mark Jones viewed as a launchpad for the season. Instead, they suffered a painful 81-78 loss to William & Mary at Echols Hall — a game they controlled for much of the second half before losing their grip in the closing minutes.

NSU (2-1) watched a cushion on the sco