Norfolk State Men's Basketball
Saturday, Jan. 24; 6 p.m.
NSU at South Carolina State, S-H-M Memorial Center
Radio: Star 1310 AM, Live Audio | Hot 91.1 FM, Live Audio
Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - It is back to the road for the Norfolk State men's basketball team, as the Spartans face a two-game swing at South Carolina State and then Savannah State this weekend. Up first, NSU will take on the Bulldogs Saturday at 6 p.m. at the S-H-M Memorial Center.

The Spartans stand 12-9 overall but more importantly 5-1 in the MEAC. NSU sits alone in second place in the conference standings behind North Carolina Central (6-0). The two-game trip will finish a larger stretch of eight out of 10 games on the road for the Spartans.

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Star 1310 AM as well as Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon and Terrell Ducre' on the call. Live audio is available through the Star 1310 website as well as through the Hot 91.1 website. Both feeds are available on smartphones through the Star 1310 website or through www.TuneIn.com or the TuneIn Radio App (search for "WNSB") for Hot 91.1.

Series History
South Carolina State is the only school in the MEAC that NSU does not have a winning record against. The Bulldogs own a 17-16 lead in the all-time series after winning last year's meeting 73-61 in Orangeburg, S.C. The Spartans have lost three of the last four meetings in Orangeburg and five of the last eight.

About South Carolina State
The Bulldogs knocked off UMES on the road on Monday, 73-72 in overtime, to improve to 4-2 in the conference and 6-14 overall. They have also defeated Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T this year, all by less than 10 points. On the season, SCSU averages less than 58 points per game while giving up almost 68. The Bulldogs also tally nearly seven steals per game while forcing almost 14 turnovers. Offense, though, has been the Achille's Heel. They shoot less than 36 percent overall, nearly 30 percent from 3-point range and slightly less than 60 percent from the free throw line. Edward Stephens leads the way with 11.2 points, with Greg Mortimer (8.2) and Karon Wright (7.9) also in the mix. Darryl Palmer has posted 7.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

Last Time Out
Down by one at halftime and by as much as five in the second half, Norfolk State eventually closed out the game on a 20-6 run to defeat North Carolina A&T at home on Monday, 74-60. NSU was plagued by foul trouble throughout the first part of the game, 14-6 against the Spartans at the break, as a 10-point first half lead disappeared by intermission. NSU, though, shot 16-of-24 in the second half and finished 28-of-46 (60.9 percent) for the game. Jeff Short led the Spartans with 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while RaShid Gaston tallied 16 points on 7-of-10 shots. The Spartans also got solid production from freshmen Zaynah Robinson (eight points, three rebounds and three assists), Jordan Butler (six points and four rebounds) and Malik Gray (six points, two assists and two steals).

Jeff Short
 • 22.8 points, 60.6 percent shooting, 43.3 percent 3-point shooting, 80.8 free throw shooting last five games
 • Also averaging 23.5 points (56.8 % shooting, 45.2 % 3-pointers, 83.1 % free throws) last 10 games; Has led the team in scoring eight of those 10 contests
 • Has scored at least 15 points in 16 straight games
 • Nine 20-point games in last 13 contests
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in scoring (20.1) and 3-point field goal percentage (42.5), 2nd in 3-point field goals (2.4), 3rd in free throw % (84.1) and 5th in field goal % (51.5) and minutes (33.9)
 • Stands 15th in the nation in scoring (20.1); Also ranks in total points (2, 423), total field goals (5, 141), field goal percentage (66, 51.5), free throw percentage (69, 84.1), 3-point field goals per game (107, 2.43) and minutes (129, 33:54)
 • Career-high 31 points vs. NCCU; 11th 20-point game of season and 2nd 30-point contest (30 at JMU)

RaShid Gaston
 • 27-of-38 field goals (71.1 percent) last four games
 • 12 10+ rebound games in last 16 contests
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in rebounds (9.5) and defensive rebounds (6.4), 3rd in field goal % (60.4), 4th in offensive rebounds (3.1) and 8th in scoring (14.4) and blocks (1.2)
 • Stands 10th in the nation in double-doubles (10) and field goal % (10, 60.4); Also ranks in total rebounds (20, 180), rebounding (25, 9.5), defensive rebounds (31, 6.37), offensive rebounds (52, 3.11), blocks (214, 1.16) and scoring (240, 14.4)
 • Ranks 32nd in NCAA Division I in career field goal percentage (.557), 42nd in rebounding average (7.2) and 43rd in double-doubles (15)
 • Stands 8th in NSU records with a .557 career shooting percentage

Jamel Fuentes
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in assists (4.5) and 3rd in assist-turnover ratio (1.9)
 • Stands 84th in the nation in assists (4.5) and 124th in assist-turnover ratio (1.93)
 • Ranks 13th in NCAA Division I in career assists (503), 15th in assist-turnover ratio (1.91), 36th in games played (120) and 51st in assist average (4.19)
 • Ranks 2nd all-time at NSU in assists with 503 behind Billy Walker (1980-85)
 • Stands 4th in games played (120) at NSU and 14th in career steals (135); Needs one more steal to move into a tie for 11th place

D'Shon Taylor
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (41.2), 14th in field goal % (43.4) and 15th in scoring (12.3) and 3-point field goals (1.7)

Malik Thomas
 • DNP vs. N.C. A&T (injury)
 • 3.0 blocks and 2.5 assists last four games played
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in blocks (1.0), 18th in rebounding (5.1) and 29th in scoring (9.4)

Jordan Butler
 • 4.8 rebounds last six games; 4.5 boards and 1.4 blocks last eight contests
 • Ranks 9th in the MEAC in blocks (1.1) and 221st in the nation (1.14)

LaTre'e Russell
 • Career-high eight points vs. N.C. A&T
 • Tied career high with four rebounds vs. NCCU

Malik Gray
 • 3.7 points last six games

Zaynah Robinson
 • Tied career highs with eight points and three assists vs. N.C. A&T
 • Tied career high with four rebounds vs. NCCU

Great Shooting Night
NSU hit 60.9 percent overall against North Carolina A&T on Monday, the second time this season shooting better than 60 percent from the floor. It is also the sixth-best shooting performance in NSU's Division I history. The Spartans also connected on 8-of-13 from 3-point range (61.5 percent), tied for the fourth-best percentage in D-I history as well. Even NSU's 10-of-13 effort from the free throw line (76.9 percent) against N.C. A&T was the best in 12 games.

MEAC Standings
The Spartans stand alone at the top of the MEAC standings at 5-1, while North Carolina Central sits alone in first at 6-0. Delaware State (3-1) is the only other conference school with less than two losses, Hampton and South Carolina State (4-2 each) and UMES (3-2) are also schools above .500 in MEAC play so far.

Winning Big in the MEAC
The Spartans have averaged 76.2 points in MEAC games so far this year while shooting 54.3 percent overall and 41.6 percent from 3-point range. NSU has outrebounded foes by an average of 7.7 boards per contest while also holding them to 36.4 percent shooting and 25.0 percent from beyond the arc. All five of NSU's MEAC wins have been by double digits.

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank No. 1 in the MEAC in rebounding margin (+4.9), defensive rebound percentage (70.9) and blocks (5.0). They also stand second in scoring offense (68.8), scoring margin (+4.0), field goal percentage (46.1), 3-point field goal percentage (35.5), opponent rebounding (31.5), assist-turnover ratio (0.9) and defensive rebounds (25.5), as well as third in assists (13.0). NSU is also one of two teams in the MEAC with four players in the top 30 in scoring.

Block Party
Over the last nine contests, the Spartans are averaging 7.0 blocks per game and have outblocked the opposition by a collective 63-28 margin.

Thanks for the Points
NSU has outscored each its last six opponents in points off turnovers and by a combined margin of 74-54 during that stretch.

Winning the Rebounding Battle
The Spartans have had the rebounding edge or been even on the glass in 17 of the 21 games this year, including 16 of the last 18 contests. Dating back to last season, it also includes 28 of the last 33 opponents. On the season, the Spartans have a +4.9 rebounding margin.

Nationally Ranked
The Spartans rank 37th in the nation in blocks (5.0) as well as in the top 150 in total rebounds (9, 765), rebound margin (53, +4.9), field goal percentage (63, 46.1), defensive rebounds (82, 25.48), field goal percentage defense (97, 40.6), total rebounds per game (103, 36.43), 3-point field goal percentage defense (125, 35.5), scoring margin (138, +4.0), scoring offense (144, 68.8), win-loss percentage (145, 57.1), assists (149, 13.0) and scoring defense (150, 64.8)

On Fire
The Spartans have shot at least 44 percent in 12 of the last 16 contests. NSU's current 46.1 percent clip from the field is a little less than last year's 46.5 shooting percentage, the best since the Spartans connected on 48.1 percent of their shots in 1998-99. The team's current 35.5 percent 3-point shooting is also the best since 1998-99 (35.7).

So far this season, the Spartans are 11-2 when they outshoot their opponents from the floor and 11-0 this year when outshooting teams from 3-point range.

Get to 20
NSU has had a 20-point scorer in 16 contests this year and 21 overall 20-point performances.

Don't Turn it Over
NSU is currently averaging 13.8 giveaways per contest this season after posting a Division I record low 13.4 last year. The school record for fewest turnovers per game was set in 1987-88 at 13.1. Only four times since 1978-79, when the stat was first kept, has NSU had less than 14 turnovers per game.

In seven of the last eight games, though, NSU has had the same amount or more turnovers than the opposition.

Better After the Break
NSU has scored more points in the second half than the first half in 14 of the last 18 games.

Specialty Stats
NSU has outscored the other team by an average of 6.7more points in the paint (30.2-23.5). On the year, NSU has outscored or been even against 17 of its 21 opponents in points in the paint, including 11 straight from Nov. 22-Dec. 22. The Spartans have attempted 79 more shots from inside the 3-point line than opponents on the season.

On the other side, in 14 of NSU's 21 games this year, opponents have made the same amount or more 3-pointers thanks to 98 more attempts on the season.

Ahead at the Half
The Spartans are 62-8 since the start of the 2011-12 season when leading or tied at the half. They also have four wins this year when trailing at the half after winning just one game last year.

Conference Streak
NSU is aiming for its 17th straight .500 or better record in the MEAC in 2014-15. In fact, in Norfolk State's 58 seasons in a conference, the program has had just one losing conference record (9-10 in the CIAA in 1990-91).