Game Notes
NORFOLK, Va. - The Spartan men's basketball team looks to get back on the winning track Monday as it takes on Howard University in the first of NSU's four ESPNU televised games this season. Tip-off is at 9 p.m. at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C.
NSU (2-13, 1-3 MEAC) is coming off a tight 63-56 loss at Hampton on Saturday. The Spartans got 19 points and seven rebounds from Kyle O'Quinn, and 17 points and seven rebounds from #Aleek# Pauline in the loss.
Howard has lost six in a row after a 78-65 home defeat at the hands of North Carolina A&T on Saturday. Dadrian Collins led three Bison in double figures with 17 points.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Radio: WNSB 91.1 FM The Game (Play-by-Play: Chris Park; Color: Ross Gordon)
Audio Stream: WNSB online
TV: Live on ESPNU (Play-by-Play: Charlie Neal; Color: Stan Lewter)
SERIES NOTES
NSU leads the all-time series with Howard, 29-10. The teams split their two meetings last season, with each winning on the other's home fl oor. Howard took an 82-77 decision in another ESPNU televised game on Jan. 18, 2010 in Echols Hall, but the Spartans got their revenge with a 72-52 win on Feb. 15, 2010 at Burr Gymnasium. Anthony Evans is 4-2 against Howard since becoming the Spartans' head coach prior to the 2007-08 season.
HAMPTON TIP-INS:
Some additional notes from NSU's loss to Hampton on Saturday:
• Starting wing players Rob Hampton and Chris McEachin combined to shoot just 4-of-21 from the floor and 0-of-6 from 3-point range. McEachin went scoreless for the first time at NSU.
• The Spartans shot 1-of-16 from 3-point range, for a season-low six percent. NSU matched its season-low in making just one trey (the Spartans went 1-of-13 vs. Fairfield).
• NSU dropped to 0-6 in games decided by 10 points or less, including 0-3 vs. MEAC opponents.
• NSU had just five bench points, three from Pendarvis Williams and two from Brandon Goode.
• Tim Zephyr notched season highs in points (six) and rebounds (six), his second straight game tallying those exact numbers.
O'QUINN AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
Junior center Kyle O'Quinn grabbed 13 rebounds Monday against FAMU and now ranks 32nd in the nation this year with an average of 9.6 He has been ranked as high as seventh this year. His 9.6 average also ranks second in the MEAC behind the 10.7 average of N.C. A&T's Thomas Coleman. O'Quinn also ranks tied for 19th nationally with 2.7 blocks per game, good for third in the conference. His six double-doubles rate as the third-most in the MEAC.
PAULINE PICKS UP THE PACE
Senior point guard Aleek Pauline is in the midst of his best three-game stretch as a Spartan. Pauline has scored in double figures in his last three contests, the first time he has done that in his three years at NSU. In that stretch, he is averaging 16.3 points, 7.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds. In all, Pauline has scored in double figures seven times this year, matching his season totals from his sophomore and junior seasons. Pauline has also fared well in his career against Howard. He scored 20 points, matching his career high, in the teams' last meeting, a 72-52 NSU win on Feb. 15, 2010.
MEAC HEARTBREAKERS
NSU dropped to 1-3 in the MEAC this season, and all three loss have come by eight points or less. The Spartans lost to N.C. A&T 89-81 on Dec. 4, then dropped an 85-83 OT decision to Bethune-Cookman on Jan. 8. After a win over FAMU, NSU then dropped a 63-56 contest at Hampton.
