Norfolk State Home Opener

NSU vs. Washington Adventist	Tuesday, Nov. 17	7 p.m.	Joseph Echols Hall
Radio: Star 1310 AM | Live Audio	Live Video	Live Stats	Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - The Spartans will play their home opener on Tuesday night - one of just two home games during the first part of the season - when the Norfolk State men's basketball team faces Washington Adventist at 7 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Star 1310 AM with Ross Gordon and Aaron Clark on the call. Live audio is available through www.star1310.com. The feed is available on smartphones through the Star 1310 website.

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
This will mark the first-ever meeting between NSU and Washington Adventist, a member of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).

About Washington Adventist
The Shock are averaging nearly 89 points per game over their first five contests of the season, led by Brian Bridgeforth. He has tallied 23.0 points and 11.8 rebounds in four games for a team that shoots better than 43 percent from the floor but just 30.8 percent from 3-point range. Tyrus Fleetwood chips in with 17.6 points, while Ashton Woodson adds 14.5 points and a team-best 3.5 assists. The Shock also give up 88.2 points per game, thanks in part to a 120-116 double overtime win against Point Park University on Nov. 10.

Last Time Out
NSU fell behind by 14 early on and never fully recovered in an 84-69 loss at South Carolina on Saturday. The Spartans were down 16-4 at the beginning of the game but were able to get to within six at halftime, 40-34. South Carolina only led by five, 63-58, with 9:32 to go before foul trouble finally did NSU in. Norfolk State had three players foul out and finished with 35 for the game. Senior Charles Oliver led all scorers with 21 points, including a 5-of-10 effort from the 3-point line, in his NSU debut. Jeff Short added 16 points, and junior Jonathan Wade tallied 10 in his Spartan debut.

Player Tidbits
Jeff Short
 • Owns a streak of 30 straight games in double figures in scoring
 • Ranks 7th in NSU career records in 3-point field goal percentage (.398), 17th in 3-point field goals (72) and 19th in 3-point field goal attempts (181)
 • Attempting to become 35th all-time 1,000-point scorer at NSU and the seventh to do so in two years (Ralph Tally, David Pope, James Grant, Damian Woolfolk, Corey Williams, Marcus Whitfield)

Charles Oliver
 • Career highs of 21 points, 5-of-10 3-point shooting and 30 minutes at South Carolina

Zaynah Robinson
 • Career highs of five assists, five rebounds and 35 minutes at South Carolina

Nice Debut
Looking for a third scorer to complement returning players Jeff Short and D'Shon Taylor, NSU may have found that option with redshirt senior Charles Oliver. The transfer from Robert Morris posted a career-high 21 points at South Carolina, hitting a personal-best 5-of-10 from 3-point range. Another potential third scorer, junior Jonathan Wade, shot 3-of-5 overall for 10 points in his Spartan debut as well.

Good Shootin'
Norfolk State made 11 3-pointers at South Carolina, tied for the fifth-most in a game in school history and two off the school record of 13. NSU's 28 attempts are tied for the fourth-most in a game. In addition, the Spartans also hit 20-of-23 (87.0 percent) from the free throw line, one of the top 15 best marks ever in Division I history for a single game.

Who Are You?
NSU had seven newcomers last year among the 13 players who appeared in a game, and this year the Spartans will again have seven newbies in a roster of 12 active players. Thanks in part to Jeff Short and D'Shon Taylor, NSU brought back 55.1 percent of its scoring but only 38.6 percent of its rebounding from last year.

4 Guard Lineup
Last year the Spartans owned the glass and outscored opponents in points in the paint, while the opposition made and attempted plenty more 3-pointers (see later notes). This year, though, those trends could be reversed. After the late transfer of forward RaShid Gaston to Xavier, NSU will be forced to play a four-guard lineup much more than ever before. The Spartans have three true post players, including sophomore Jordan Butler and freshmen Alex Long and Moses Toriola.

Preseason Predictions
NSU was picked to finish third in the MEAC this year in the preseason poll of head coaches and sports information directors. The Spartans were picked behind last year's regular season champion (North Carolina Central) and postseason champion (Hampton). In a league with a lot more parity than it has had in the past, the Spartans are banking on finishing in the top 4 again this year. They have finished fourth or better in eight of the past nine seasons.

O'Quinn's NBA Season
Former Spartan Kyle O'Quinn begins his fourth year in the NBA this season and his first with the New York Knicks after signing a four-year, $16 million contract. NSU's first NBA player in 25 years after getting drafted in the second round in 2012, O'Quinn is currently averaging 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 assists per game for New York after three years with the Orlando Magic.