Norfolk State Men's BasketballNORFOLK, Va. - After a victory on Monday at Northern Arizona and a flight back on Tuesday, the Norfolk State men's basketball team will turn right around and play on Wednesday at home against Mercy College. Tip-off from Joseph Echols Hall is set for 7 p.m.
Media CoverageThe 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 HistoryThis will mark the first-ever meeting between the two schools and the fourth time this year NSU will face a school for the first time along with South Carolina, Indiana State and DePaul.
About Mercy CollegeMercy College owns a 1-2 record on the year and has not played since Nov. 21. The Mavericks average close to 71 points per game, led by Tyseem Lyles at 13.3 points and Laz Martinez at an even 10.0. Lyles and William Robinson share the team lead with 7.0 rebounds, with Robinson also chipping in with 9.3 points. Five other players also tally at least 4.0 points per game. The Mavericks have averaged 48.0 rebounds during those first three games for a +9.0 rebounding margin. They have, however, shot just 21.3 percent from 3-point range and 39.9 percent overall while turning the ball over 22.0 times per contest. Opponents are averaging 11.7 steals and 4.7 blocks per game against Mercy College.
Last Time OutThe Spartans used a big run midway through the second half and
D'Shon Taylor's career night to hold off a late Northern Arizona rally in a 70-66 victory on Monday at the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz. NSU was down by two before Taylor hit a 3-pointer to begin what became a 21-5 run that lasted seven and a half minutes. The Spartans were up by 14, but NAU came back, getting to within two late in the contest. After an NSU turnover, the Lumberjacks had a chance for the win, but a turnover on their end and two free throws by
Jeff Short iced the game for the Spartans. Taylor went for a career-high 31 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-8 from long range. Short added 19 on 7-of-17 shooting as the duo combined for 50 of the team's 70 points on the night.
Player TidbitsD'Shon Taylor • Career-high 31 points at Northern Arizona and tied career best with 5-of-8 3-point shooting; 7th career 20-point scoring game and 1st 30-point game
 • Averaging 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists last 3 games while shooting 25-of-42 overall, 12-of-19 from 3-point range and 16-of-20 from the foul line
 • Ranks 9th in the MEAC in defensive rebounds (5.0) and rebounding (7.0), 10th in free throw % (84.2) and 13th in offensive rebounds (2.0); Also sits 125th in the nation in points per game (17.5), 154th in field goal % (51.6), 233rd in 3-point field goals per game (2.17), 236th in rebounds (7.0) and 239th in free throw % (80.0)
 • Stands 475th in NCAA D-I in career points (547)
Jeff Short • Averaging 18.0 points last 3 games and shooting 8-of-15 from 3-point range
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in free throw % (87.5), 6th in 3-point field goal % (46.7), 7th in scoring (15.5) and 11th in 3-point field goals per game (1.8); Sits 139 in the nation in free throw % (84.8) and 205th in points per game (16.2)
 • Stands 68th in NCAA D-I in career scoring average (12.4) and 145th in points (927)
Charles Oliver • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in field goal % (51.5) and 3-point field goals per game (2.3) and 9th in 3-point field goal % (42.9); Sits 53rd in the nation in 3-point field goal % (47.1) and 107th in 3-point field goals per game (2.67)
Zaynah Robinson • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (2.0), 3rd in 3-point field goal % (50.0), 6th in steals (1.5) and 8th in assists (3.0); Also sits 71st in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (3.00)
Jordan Butler • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (3.5), 4th in offensive rebounds (2.8) and rebounding (8.0), 8th in defensive rebounds (5.3) and 15th in free throw % (80.0); Also stands 19th in the nation in blocks (2.67)
Good Shootin'Norfolk State made a school record 14 3-pointers against DePaul, breaking the previous best of 13 set against North Carolina A&T on Feb. 24, 2007. NSU also made 11 3-pointers at South Carolina, tied for the sixth-most in a game in school history. NSU's 28 attempts against both DePaul and South Carolina are tied for the fourth-most in a game. Over the last three games, NSU is 30-of-63 (47.6 percent) from 3-point land.
So far this year, NSU is hitting 41.5 percent (49-of-118), a year after making 190 treys for the second-most ever in a season in the Spartans' history. The Spartans are also shooting better from 3-point range (41.5) than from inside the arc (37.9 percent, 88-of-232). NSU's current 41.5 clip from long range ranks 24th in the nation, and its average of 8.2 made 3-pointers per game stands 88th.
Better in the 2ndNSU has scored more points in the second half than the first in all six games this season. On the year, the Spartans are are shooting 42.7 percent overall in the second half but just 35.8 percent in the first half, including 50.8 from 3-point range in the second but 32.2 in the first. The Spartans are thus averaging 40.0 points after halftime but just 31.2 before the intermission. NSU also has a +1.3 rebounding margin in the second half but a -2.3 margin in the first.
Limit Those GiveawaysNSU has been in single digits in turnovers the past two games (15 total), and the Spartans on the season are averaging just 12.3 per game. The school record for fewest giveaways per game is 13.1 set in 1987-88.
So Far So GoodNSU, which ranked 282nd in the nation last year in free throw percentage, has improved its mark from 65.9 to 74.8 percent this season, good for 42nd in the nation. The Spartans are attempting to hit better than 70 percent this year for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
Get Used to ThisThe Nov. 17 game against Washington Adventist and Wednesday's contest against Mercy College mark the only two home contests for the Spartans in the early part of the year. NSU will play 13 of the season's first 15 games on the road.
Good from 3Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 187 straight games, dating back to a contest at South Carolina State on Jan. 25, 2010, when NSU finished 0-of-17 from 3-point range.
