NSU Men's BasketballHIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The first of three games in a five-day span finds the Norfolk State men's basketball team playing a Sunday evening matchup at Northern Kentucky. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. from NKU's BB&T Arena.
It will also mark the continuation of a stretch of games in which NSU plays eight straight on the road.
Media CoverageThe game will be broadcast live on Star 1310 AM as well as Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon on the call. Live audio is available through
www.star1310.com as well as
hot91.nsu.edu:8000/128. 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.
The matchup can also be seen on
ESPN3, available through the WatchESPN app. Fans can also follow along with the live stats at
www.NKUNorse.com.
Series HistoryThis will mark the first-ever meeting against Northern Kentucky and the fifth opponent this season the Spartans will play for the first time ever (South Carolina, Indiana State, DePaul, Mercy College)
About Northern KentuckyThe Norse own a 1-5 record on the year and are still searching for their first Division I win of the season. They fell on the road against MEAC opponent North Carolina A&T and also dropped an overtime contest at Eastern Illinois in their last matchup on Dec. 5. Northern Kentucky has given up almost 79 points per game. For the Norse, Jalen Billups leads all players with 13.8 points to go along with 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Lavone Holland II averages 12.2 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds, with Tyler White also reaching double figures at 11.5. Despite averaging six 3-pointers per game, Northern Kentucky has shot just 28.6 percent from beyond the arc while also committing 16.2 turnovers and fouling 24.3 times per game.
Last Time OutThe Spartans outscored Coppin State by 19 in the second half in their biggest victory ever over the Eagles, 88-56 on Monday night at CSU's Physical Education Complex. NSU shot 30-of-54 overall (55.6 percent), converted 7-of-13 from long range and also held advantages of 39-25 on the glass and 34-14 in points in the paint. NSU was led by
Jeff Short, who tallied 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go with a game-high seven rebounds.
Charles Oliver added 18 points, hitting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
D'Shon Taylor (13 points) and
Jonathan Wade (10) also reached double figures. The Spartans shot 17-of-26 in the first half alone as well as 21-of-27 from the free throw line for the entire game. CSU did not have a player score in double figures.
Big WinNSU's victory over Coppin State not only marked the biggest win ever against the Eagles, it marked the Spartans' biggest victory against any MEAC team as well as any Division I opponent. The previous best for a D-I opopnent was a 31-point victory (81-50) at Savannah State (then a D-I independent) on Jan. 5, 2005. The previous best against a MEAC opponent came on Jan. 16, 2006 in a 28-point win over Morgan State (81-53).
Player TidbitsJeff Short • Averaging 20.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists last 5 games and shooting 33-of-64 overall and 11-of-20 from 3-point range
 • Needs 25 points to reach 1,000 for his career (combined NSU and Fordham)
 • 18th career 20-point game with 20 at Coppin State
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (48.3), 3rd in scoring (18.1), 7th in free throw % (83.7) and 12th in 3-point field goals (1.8) and 13th in field goal % (45.9); Sits 81st in the nation in points per game (18.1) and 125th in free throw % (83.7)
 • Stands 67th in NCAA D-I in career scoring average (12.7) and 152nd in points (975)
 • Ranks 6th in NSU career records in 3-point field goal percentage (.407), 16th in 3-point field goals (83) and 17th in 3-point field goal attempts (204)
D'Shon Taylor • Shooting 37-of-65 (56.9 %) last 6 games
 • Tied career high with five assists at Coppin State
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in field goal % (51.3), 5th in 3-point field goal % (46.7), 6th in scoring (15.3), 10th in defensive rebounds (4.3) and offensive rebounds (2.3), 11th in rebounding (6.5), 12th in 3-point field goals (1.8) and 13th in free throw % (81.1); Also sits 199th in the nation in free throw % (81.1)
 • Ranks 19th in NSU career records in 3-point field goals (64)
Charles Oliver • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (51.2), 2nd in 3-point field goals (2.6) and 4th in field goal % (50.8); Sits 14th in the nation in 3-point field goal % (51.2) and 105th in 3-point field goals per game (2.63)
Zaynah Robinson • 15-0 assist-turnover ratio last 5 games
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (4.3), 7th in steals (1.4), 9th in assists (3.3) and 10th in 3-point field goal % (40.0); Also sits 12th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (4.33)
Jordan Butler • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (2.8), 7th in defensive rebounds (4.8) and 9th in rebounding (6.6); Also stands 15th in the nation in blocks (2.75)
 • Ranks 20th in NSU career records in blocks (58)
Jonathan Wade • 2nd double-digit scoring effort of season with 10 points at Coppin State
Good Shootin'So far this year, Norfolk State is hitting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc with 60 total treys, a year after making 190 for the second-most ever in a season in program history. The Spartans are also shooting almost exactly the same from 3-point range compared to inside the arc (42.2 percent, 130-of-308). NSU's current 42.3 clip from long range ranks 14th in the nation. Over the last five games, NSU is 41-of-87 (47.1 percent) from 3-point land, as well as 53-of-100 (53.0 percent) overall during the last two games.
NSU 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.
Better in the 2ndNSU has scored more points in the second half than the first in seven of eight games this season. On the year, the Spartans are are shooting 44.1 percent overall in the second half and 40.3 percent in the first half, including 49.3 from 3-point range in the second but 34.8 in the first. The Spartans are thus averaging 40.1 points after halftime but just 33.1 before the intermission. NSU also has a +3.3 rebounding margin in the second half but a -1.9 margin in the first.
MEAC RankingsThe Spartans continue to lead the league in 3-point field goal percentage (42.3) and 3-pointers per game (7.5) while also ranking first in field goal percentage defense (40.2) and free throw percentage (73.7), second in scoring defense (71.8), opponent rebounding (35.4) and assist-turnover ratio (0.9) and third in scoring margin (+1.5), field goal percentage (42.2), defensive rebound percentage (69.0) and blocks (4.1).
Limit Those GiveawaysNSU had averaged 11.3 turnovers the last four games, and the Spartans on the season are averaging 13.0 per contest. 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 73.7 percent this season, good for 52nd 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 the Dec. 2 contest against Mercy College marked 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.
What Deficit?NSU erased an 11-point deficit in the win over Mercy College, the seventh time in the past two seasons the Spartans overcame a double-digit deficit in a victory and the 10th time overall since 2010-11.
Ahead at the HalfThe Spartans are 71-11 (86.6 winning percentage) since the start of the 2011-12 season when leading or tied at the half.
Spartans in the ProsAside from Kyle O'Quinn, NSU had seven other former players sign with overseas teams. Guards Michael Deloach and Pendarvis Williams are competing in Italy for the second straight year, while guards Chris McEachin (Czech Republic) and Aleek Pauline (France) are also playing in Europe. Two more guards,
Jamel Fuentes and Anell Alexis, are competing in Puerto Rico and Panama, respectively, while center Brandon Goode will take his talents to Estonia.
Deloach is currently averaging 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game for Orasi Ravenna, while Williams has tallied 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals for Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna.
