Tournament Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State men's basketball team (11-18) enters the 2010 MEAC Tournament as the No. 4 seed and will open play in the quarterfinals against No. 5 seed Hampton (13-18) at approximately 8 p.m. on Thursday night, March 11 at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. 

Ross Gordon and Chris Park will call every NSU game at the MEAC Tournament on WNSB Hot 91.1 FM. WNSB's live audio link is available through the NSU web site at www.nsuspartans.com by clicking on the Live Audio link. Live stats for the games will be available at www.hbculivestats.com/meac.

The NSU-HU game will tip off roughly 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 6 p.m. game between No. 3 South Carolina State and the winner of the UMES-Coppin State first-round game. 

The Spartans and Pirates are two of the hotter teams in the league heading into the tournament. NSU won eight of its last 10 regular-season games, including the last two on the road. Hampton has won its last five games heading into the tourney.

NSU swept the regular-season series from Hampton. The Spartans beat Hampton 66-50 on Jan. 16 at Echols Hall in Norfolk, then took a 70-66 win at the HU Convocation Center on Feb. 13. 

NSU is 0-3 all-time against Hampton in the MEAC Tournament. In their last meeting, the Pirates won 73-56 in the 2006 tournament semifinals en route to the championship.

The Spartans are still seeking their first-ever MEAC title and accompanying NCAA Tournament berth. NSU is 9-10 all-time in the tournament and has made four semifinals appearances (2001, '06, '08, '09) and one finals appearance ('09). The Spartans lost to Morgan State 83-69 in last year's MEAC final. This marks the third straight season under coach Anthony Evans that the Spartans have received a first-round
MEAC Tournament bye.

Tickets can be purchased through any Ticketmaster outlet, online at www.meachoops.com, or by visiting the LJVM Coliseum box office.