Norfolk State 60, Saint Peter’s 58

Junior guard Jeff Short scored 20 points to help Norfolk State rally for a 60-58 victory over host Saint Peter’s on Saturday in the championship game of the Barclays Center Classic at Yanitelli Center in Jersey City, N.J.

Junior forward RaShid Gaston had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Norfolk State (4-3), which trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half. Junior guard D’Shon Taylor also scored 14 points for the Spartans.

Senior forward Marvin Dominique scored 17 points for Saint Peter’s (2-5), and sophomore guard Travis Hester and senior forward Tyler Gaskins added 12 apiece.

Short made a layup and a 3-pointer to help Norfolk State race out to a 13-3 lead over the first 4:21, but Saint Peter’s staged an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to two on a 3-pointer by Dominique with 12:53 to go. The Peacocks went up 18-17 on a jumper by Dominique with 8:12 remaining and extended their lead to six on a 3-pointer by Dominique with 4:38 to play.

Saint Peter’s held a 27-20 lead at the break after sophomore guard Trevis Wyche made a 3-pointer with 34 seconds to play in the opening period. Saint Peter’s continued to build on its lead early in the second half, going up 34-20 on a 3-pointer by Hester with 16:01 remaining, but Norfolk State battled back.

The Spartans trailed 48-37 with less than seven minutes to go when Short scored to spark a decisive 19-0 run. Norfolk State got within one on a basket by Gaston, took a 49-48 lead on a layup by Short with 3:04 to play and led by eight with 1:05 to go.

Saint Peter’s stormed back and had a chance to force overtime, but Gaskins missed a jumper with one second remaining.