Game Notes
NORFOLK, Va. - The Spartan men's basketball team (19-9, 10-3 MEAC) starts a three-game, season-ending stretch of road games this Saturday at fourth-place Bethune-Cookman (13-15, 9-4). Tip-off is at 4 p.m. at Moore Gymnasium.
The Spartans won their 19th game of the season on Monday, a 66-52 victory over Longwood on Senior Night at Echols Hall. Chris McEachin scored 21 points and Marcos Tamares 20 for NSU, which is tied with Delaware State for second place in the MEAC.
B-CU had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 67-44 defeat at league-leading Savannah State on Monday. That prevented the Wildcats from forcing a three-way tie for second place in the MEAC standings.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Radio: WNSB 91.1 FM (Play-by-Play: Ross Gordon)
Live Audio: www.nsuspartans.com (Click “Live Audio” link under Inside Athletics tab)
SERIES NOTES
NSU leads the series with Bethune-Cookman, 13-10. The Wildcats won the only meeting between the teams last season, an 85-83 overtime triumph at Echols Hall on Jan. 8, 2011. B-CU has won the last two games and has taken the last three regular-season meetings between the teams dating to 2008. NSU's last win over the Wildcats came in the 2009 MEAC Tournament quarterfinals, 63-58, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
RECAPPING LONGWOOD
Additional notes from NSU's win over Longwood on Monday:
• Chris McEachin scored at least 20 points for the third time in four games, netting 21.
• Marcos Tamares reached the 20-point mark for the second time in his career, with 20 points. He scored a career-high of 22 at Morgan State in January.
• McEachin and Tamares combined for 32 second-half points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 6-of-8 from 3-point range. Both scored 16 points after halftime.
• NSU committed a season-low nine turnovers.
• Kyle O'Quinn was held to just six points, his fewest since scoring nine against Howard on Jan. 9.
• Pendarvis Williams missed the game due to an illness, but is expected back for the Florida trip.
DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME
The MEAC regular-season championship will come down to the final week. With three games left in the regular season, NSU is tied for second-place with Delaware State at 10-3 in MEAC play. Savannah State leads with an 11-2 mark. DSU holds a tie-breaker over NSU based on sweeping the regular-season series from the Spartans, while NSU holds a tie-breaker over SSU by virtue of giving the Tigers their first MEAC loss back in December. While still holding out hope for their first-ever MEAC regular-season title, the Spartans are shooting for no worse than a top-three finish, which would give them a first-round MEAC Tournament bye. The top two teams not only get byes, but would also receive a day off between the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds should they win their first tourney game. Seeds four through 13 match up in five first-round tournament games and need to win four times to win the tournament title.
O'QUINN A FINALIST FOR LOU HENSON AWARD
Center Kyle O'Quinn was recently named one of 25 finalists for the Lou Henson Award, given annually to the top “mid-major” Division I basketball player. This year, online fan voting will count for one-third of the fi nal tally. Fans can vote online at www.votelouhenson.com until March 12.
