Battle of the Bay
Saturday, Jan. 31; 6 p.m.
NSU vs. Hampton, Joseph Echols Hall
Radio: Star 1310 AM (Tape Delayed at 8:30 p.m.) | Hot 91.1 FM, Live Audio
Live Video | Live Stats | Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - This year's first edition of the Battle of the Bay takes place this Saturday as regional rivals Hampton and Norfolk State face-off at Joseph Echols Hall. Tip-off for the men's game is set for 6 p.m.

The Spartans stand 14-9 overall but more importantly 7-1 in the MEAC after Monday's victory at Savannah State. NSU sits alone in second place in the conference standings behind North Carolina Central (8-0).

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Hot 91.1 FM as well as tape delayed on Star 1310 AM at 8:30 p.m. 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.

Fans can also follow along with the live stats and the live video feed. The live video feed also carries the radio broadcast.

Series History
NSU has played Hampton more than any other opponent by far, and the Spartans own the edge in the all-time series, 81-43. In each of the past seven years, one team has swept the other in the regular season series. The Pirates won both meetings in 2007-08, 2010-11 and 2013-14, while NSU swept the Pirates in 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2012-13.

About Hampton
The Pirates have dropped four MEAC games in a row, all by single digits, to fall to 4-4 in conference play and 8-12 overall. The duo of Dwight Meikle (13.1 points, 7.6 rebounds) and Quinton Chievous (11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds) leads the way, with Brian Darden chipping in with 9.2 points per game. The Pirates shoot slightly less than 40 percent overall and less than 28 percent from 3-point range, with Darden averaging nearly two 3-pointers per game, almost double any other teammate. Opponents score close to 66 points per game against the Pirates, including almost 19 points every game from the free throw line, but only shoot 40 percent overall and 34 percent from 3-point land. Hampton turns the ball over nearly 16 times per game, although they also average better than seven steals.

Last Time Out
NSU continued its torrid shooting, hitting better than 60 percent overall in a 70-54 win over Savannah State on Monday night. The Spartans won their third in a row and fifth in the past six games, with RaShid Gaston leading the charge with 17 points (8-of-11 shooting) and 13 rebounds. Gaston had eight points during a 12-4 run in the second half, after SSU had cut the deficit to just six. Near the end of the game, NSU also went on a 15-4 run to go up by as much as 19. Jeff Short added 16 points, and D'Shon Taylor (13) and Jamel Fuentes (10) also reached double figures. NSU shot 28-of-45 overall (62.2 percent) and held the edges in rebounding, 38-20, and blocks, 10-0. The Spartans, though, did commit 21 turnovers.

Player Tidbits
Jeff Short
 • Lou Henson Award mid-season watch list by CollegeInsider.com for top mid-major player in nation
 • 21.4 points, 61.1 percent shooting, 42.1 percent 3-point shooting and 1.7 assists last seven games
 • Also averaging 22.6 points, 57.7 percent shooting, 44.3 percent 3-pointers, 82.5 percent free throws last 12 games; Has led the team in scoring nine of those 12 contests
 • Averaging 21.1 points, 63.2 percent shooting, 45.2 percent 3-point shooting and 1.9 assists in MEAC games
 • Has scored at least 15 points in 18 straight games
 • 10 20-point games in last 15 contests
 • 12th 20-point game of season with 20 at South Carolina State
 • Shooting 102-of-170 (60.0 percent) from 2-point range
 • Has sank a 3-pointer in all but one game this year (Mount St. Mary's)
 • MEAC Player of the Week on Jan. 26 after averaging 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals in two games
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in scoring (20.0) and 3-point field goal percentage (42.2), 3rd in 3-point field goals (2.3) and free throw percentage (83.8), 4th in minutes (34.1) and 5th in field goal percentage (52.3)
 • Stands 16th in the nation in scoring (20.0); Also ranks in total points (3, 459), total field goals (4, 156), field goal percentage (53, 52.3), free throw percentage (74, 83.8), 3-point field goals per game (120, 2.35) and minutes (121, 34:05)

RaShid Gaston
 • Averaging 16.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 70.4 percent shooting in MEAC games
 • 40-of-56 field goals (71.4 percent) last six games
 • 14 10+ rebound games in last 18 contests
 • Has at least one block in nine straight games
 • Recorded 12th double-double of season with 17 points and 13 rebounds at Savannah State
 • Led team in points, rebounds and assists (4), the first time in more than two years a player led in all three
 • Tied career high with four assists at Savannah State
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in rebounds (9.7), defensive rebounds (6.7) and field goal percentage (61.4), 4th in offensive rebounds (3.0), 8th in scoring (14.5) and 9th in blocks (1.1)
 • Stands 5th in the nation in field goal percentage (61.4); Also ranks in double-doubles (6th, 12), total rebounds (13, 204), rebounding (23, 9.7), defensive rebounds (23, 6.71), offensive rebounds (57, 3.00), blocks (228, 1.14) and scoring (230, 14.5)
 • Ranks 27th in NCAA Division I in career field goal percentage (.563), 34th in double-doubles (17) and 37th in rebounding average (7.4)
 • Stands 7th in NSU records with a .563 career shooting percentage

Jamel Fuentes
 • Season-high 10 points at Savannah State; 6.0 points, 6-of-10 field goals last three games
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in assists (4.3) and 4th in assist-turnover ratio (1.8)
 • Stands 100th in the nation in assists (4.3) and 163rd in assist-turnover ratio (1.77)
 • Ranks 13th in NCAA Division I in career assists (508), 18th in assist-turnover ratio (1.87), 36th in games played (122) and 52nd in assist average (4.16)
 • Ranks 2nd all-time at NSU in assists with 508 behind Billy Walker (1980-85)
 • Stands 3rd in games played (122) at NSU and 10th in career steals (138)

D'Shon Taylor
 • Averaging 14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and shooting 50.6 percent overall and 45.9 percent from 3-point range in MEAC games
 • Shooting 23-of-44 (52.3 percent) last five games
 • 5.5 rebounds last four games
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (41.3), 13th in field goal percentage (45.1) and 14th in scoring (12.5)

Malik Thomas
 • 2.5 blocks last six games played
 • 11.5 points, 7-of-10 shooting, 5-of-8 3-point shooting last two games
 • Ranks 10th in the MEAC in blocks (1.0), 18th in rebounding (4.9) and 29th in scoring (9.6)

Jordan Butler
 • Career-high five blocks at Savannah State
 • 4.5 rebounds last 10 games
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in blocks (1.3) and 174th in the nation (1.26)

LaTre'e Russell
 • 3.5 points, 2.0 rebounds last six games played
 • Career-high three assists at South Carolina State

Zaynah Robinson
 • 4.3 points last three games
 • 1.9 assists last eight games

Great Shooting Nights
The Spartans have shot better than 60 percent from the field in each of the last three games. NSU hit a Division I record 65.9 percent at South Carolina State on Jan. 24 on 29-of-44 shooting. It broke the previous D-I best of 65.7 percent (23-of-35) set against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 27, 2011. NSU has shot a combined 85-of-135 (63.0 percent) over the last three games.

The Spartans also connected on 8-of-13 from 3-point range (61.5 percent) against N.C. A&T on Jan. 19, tied for the fourth-best percentage in D-I history. After hitting a season-low one 3-pointer against N.C. Central on Jan. 17, NSU has shot 20-of-38 (52.6 percent) from 3-point range over the last three games.

Strong Defense
Over the last six games, NSU has held opponents to just 36.4 percent shooting, including 25.7 percent from 3-point range. The Spartans, on the other hand, have hit 55.0 percent overall and 38.3 percent from 3-point range during that time.

MEAC Standings
The Spartans stand alone in second place in the MEAC standings at 7-1, while North Carolina Central sits in first at 8-0. Three other schools have just two losses, including third-place UMES (5-2) and Delaware State and Howard (4-2).

Fast MEAC Start
NSU's 7-1 record so far this year in conference play marks the third time in four years the Spartans have been 7-1 or better halfway through the MEAC schedule. NSU started the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons 8-0.

Winning Big in the MEAC
The Spartans have averaged 75.4 points in MEAC games so far this year while shooting 56.5 percent overall and 42.9 percent from 3-point range. NSU has outrebounded foes by an average of 9.1 boards per contest while also holding them to 35.9 percent shooting and 23.5 percent from beyond the arc. All seven of NSU's MEAC wins have been by double digits, the first time since 2004-05 the Spartans had at least seven conference wins by 10 or more points.

Best in the Conference
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU is 47-9 in regular season conference play, second in the MEAC over that period of time behind North Carolina Central (48-8). Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 52-11, while the Eagles are 52-10 during that time.

Conference Streak
With just one more win, NSU will secure its 17th straight .500 or better record in the MEAC. In fact, in Norfolk State's 59 seasons in a conference prior to this year, the program has had just one losing conference record (9-10 in the CIAA in 1990-91).

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank No. 1 in the MEAC in field goal percentage (47.4), 3-point field goal percentage (36.3), rebounding margin (+5.7), defensive rebound percentage (70.7) and blocks (5.3). They also stand second in scoring offense (69.1), scoring margin (+4.9), opponent rebounding (31.0) and defensive rebounds (25.9), as well as third in field goal percentage defense (40.0), assists (13.2), assist-turnover ratio (0.9) and offensive rebound percentage (34.6). NSU is also one of three teams in the MEAC with four players in the top 30 in scoring.

Block Party
Over the last 11 contests, the Spartans are averaging 7.2 blocks per game and have outblocked the opposition by a collective 79-29 margin. NSU had 10 at Savannah State, tied for the most in a game over the past 10 years.

Winning the Rebounding Battle
The Spartans have had the rebounding edge or been even on the glass in 19 of the 23 games this year, including 18 of the last 20 contests. Dating back to last season, it also includes 30 of the last 35 opponents. On the season, the Spartans have a +5.7 rebounding margin.

Thanks for the Points
NSU has outscored seven of its last eight opponents in points off turnovers. Although in eight of the last nine games, NSU has had the same amount or more turnovers than the opposition.

Nationally Ranked
The Spartans rank 27th in the nation in blocks (5.3) as well as in the top 150 in total blocks (10, 121), total rebounds (10, 843), field goal percentage (31, 47.4), rebound margin (36, +5.7), defensive rebounds (54, 25.91), field goal percentage defense (77, 40.0), total rebounds per game (84, 36.65), 3-point field goal percentage (92, 36.3), scoring margin (120, +4.9), win-loss percentage (121, 60.9), scoring defense (134, 64.3), scoring offense (136, 69.1), assists (140, 13.2) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (149, 33.1).

Lend a Helping Hand
Norfolk State's current 13.2 assists-per-game rate is behind the D-I record of 13.8 set in 1998-99 and last year's mark of 13.7, the most since that 1998-99 campaign.

On Fire
The Spartans have shot at least 44 percent in 14 of the last 18 contests. NSU's current 47.4 percent clip from the field is the best since the Spartans connected on 48.1 percent of their shots in 1998-99. The team's current 36.3 percent 3-point shooting is also the best since 1992-93 (40.4).

Better After the Break
NSU has scored more points in the second half than the first half in 16 of the last 20 games.

Specialty Stats
NSU has outscored the other team by an average of 6.9 more points in the paint (30.9-24.0). On the year, NSU has outscored or been even against 19 of its 23 opponents in points in the paint, including 11 straight from Nov. 22-Dec. 22. Over the past three games, NSU is averaging 35.0 points in the paint.