WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a high-octane Colonial Athletic Association shootout where defensive stops were a rare commodity, William & Mary used a decisive second-half surge to outlast North Carolina A&T 97-89 on Thursday night at Kaplan Arena.

The game, played before a crowd of 3,241, featured remarkable offensive efficiency. William & Mary (12-6, 2-3 CAA) scored 55 points after halftime, shooting 57.9% from the field for the game and posting an offensive rating of 129.8 points per 100 possessions. North Carolina A&T (7-9, 1-4) was nearly as potent, shooting 59.3% overall with a 117.2 offensive rating, but 17 turnovers proved costly against a Tribe squad that committed only nine.

The contest was tight for the first 25 minutes, with 12 lead changes and neither team building more than a five-point advantage. The Aggies, led by a spectacular scoring performance from Lewis Walker, took a 58-57 lead on a Zamoku Weluche-Ume 3-pointer with 13:29 remaining.

William & Mary’s response was immediate and overwhelming. Sparked by its defense, the Tribe unleashed a 15-2 run over the next three and a half minutes to seize control. The run featured a steal and assist from Chase Lowe, a driving layup from Reese Miller, and a critical 3-pointer from Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi. It was capped by a Jo’El Emanuel dunk off another Fasasi assist, pushing the lead to 72-60 with 8:13 to play. North Carolina A&T never got closer than six points the rest of the way.

Walker, a 6-foot-6 junior from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was phenomenal in defeat, scoring 33 points on 12-of-18 shooting in 37 minutes. Trent Middleton added 20 points for the Aggies, while Weluche-Ume, from London, England, chipped in 15 points.

William & Mary countered with a balanced and efficient attack. Fasasi, a 6-foot-7 guard from Stockholm, Sweden, orchestrated the win with 19 points and five assists. Miller, a sophomore from Round Rock, Texas, matched Fasasi’s 19 points, and Kilian Brockhoff, a 6-foot-8 forward from Cuxhaven, Germany, provided 15 points and two blocks off the bench.

The first half set the stage for the offensive showcase, ending with William & Mary holding a narrow 42-40 edge. The Aggies kept pace largely through Walker’s 18 first-half points, but the Tribe’s depth and ability to force turnovers began to tilt the game after halftime.

William & Mary’s backcourt pressure was pivotal, generating eight steals. Lowe, despite an off-shooting night, contributed seven points and a game-high six assists, while Kyle Pulliam had four assists and four steals. The Tribe also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 22 of 31 attempts compared to A&T’s 17 of 23.

The Aggies, who have lost four of their last five, continue their road swing at Hampton on Monday. William & Mary, snapping a three-game losing streak, hosts UNC Wilmington next Thursday.