DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- D'Shon Taylor scored 19 of his career-high 25 points in the second half, and RaShid Gaston added 17 points and nine rebounds to lead Norfolk State past Bethune-Cookman 79-55 on Monday.

Taylor tied a career-best with five 3-pointers and Jeffrey Short scored 18 for Norfolk State (11-8, 4-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), which shot 59 percent in the second half. Malik Thomas had a career-high five blocks.

Bethune-Cookman shot just 19 of 54 (35 percent), including 6 of 21 from 3-point range. The Spartans made 11 of 23 from behind the arc.

Norfolk State took a 41-30 lead into halftime and kept the Wildcats at arm's length until midway through the second. A 3 by Taylor sparked 19-2 run, which was capped by back-to-back baskets by Short, made it 76-49 with 3:34 remaining. Taylor scored 11 and Short had six during that stretch.

Rickey Johnson scored 17 for Bethune-Cookman (4-13, 0-3)