NSU Men's BasketballCINCINNATI, Ohio - The Norfolk State men's basketball team will make an appearance on ESPNU on Tuesday night when the Spartans face No. 23/20 Cincinnati for a 7 p.m. matchup at Fifth Third Arena.
The contest will mark the second of a three-game swing for the Spartans that began on Sunday night at Northern Kentucky and finishes on Thursday night at Evansville. It will also be the third of an eight-game road stretch for NSU.
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 live on ESPNU and through the
WatchESPN app, with Jim Barbar and Brooke Weisbrod on the call. Fans can follow along with the live stats at
www.GoBearcats.com as well.
Series HistoryThis will mark the first-ever meeting against Cincinnati and the sixth opponent this season the Spartans will play for the first time ever (South Carolina, Indiana State, DePaul, Mercy College, Northern Kentucky).
About CincinnatiThe nationally-ranked Bearcats will look to bounce back after falling against crosstown rival Xavier on Saturday to fall to 8-2 on the season. Cincinnati is scoring almost 80 points per game and shooting better than 46 percent overall with its leading scorer, Octavius Ellis, averaging just 11.2 points per game with 7.5 rebounds. Farad Cobb (10.9 points) and Troy Caupain (10.2) also average in double figures, with five other players tallying between 6.9 and 8.8 points for a team that averages eight 3-pointers per game. On defense, though, the Bearcats have limited teams to 37 percent shooting and less than 60 points per game. Cincinnati is tallying almost 10 more boards, more than nine steals and six blocks per contest, and forcing teams to commit 15 turnovers.
Last Time OutNorthern Kentucky scored 54 points and outscored the Spartans by 15 in the second half to pull away from NSU, 81-60, on Sunday night at BB&T Arena. NSU only trailed by six at the half despite scoring just 21 points, but Jalen Billups and Cole Murray combined to score 31 in the second half and 45 for the game to lead the Norse. Billups made 11-of-16 for 23 points with nine boards, while Murray hit 6-of-8 from long range and ended the night with 22 points. NKU made 11-of-20 from long range and 31-of-54 overall (57.4 percent). The Spartans shot 19-of-55 (34.5 percent) and 4-of-15 from long range.
Charles Oliver led NSU with 11 points, with
Jeff Short and
Jonathan Wade contributing 10 each. NSU did hit 18-of-19 from the foul line.
Player TidbitsJeff Short • Averaging 18.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists last 6 games and shooting 46.8 % overall and 11-of-23 from 3-point range
 • Needs 15 points to reach 1,000 for his career (combined NSU and Fordham)
 • 18th career 20-point game with 20 at Coppin State
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in scoring (17.2), 5th in 3-point field goal % (43.8), 7th in free throw % (84.3) and 15th in 3-point field goals (1.6); Sits 112th in the nation in free throw % (84.3) and 113th in points per game (17.2)
 • Stands 70th in NCAA D-I in career scoring average (12.6) and 152nd in points (985)
 • Ranks 7th in NSU career records in 3-point field goal percentage (.401) and 16th in 3-point field goals (83) and 3-point field goal attempts (207)
D'Shon Taylor • Shooting 37-of-69 (53.6 %) last 7 games
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (45.2), 4th in field goal % (48.8), 8th in scoring (14.0) and free throw % (82.9), 12th in offensive rebounds (2.1) and defensive rebounds (4.0), 13th in rebounding (6.1) and 15th in 3-point field goals (1.6); Also sits 134th in the nation in free throw % (82.9)
 • Ranks 19th in NSU career records in 3-point field goals (64)
Charles Oliver • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (46.7), 3rd in 3-point field goals (2.3), 9th in field goal % (47.1) and 13th in free throw % (78.4); Sits 175th in the nation in 3-point field goals per game (2.33)
Zaynah Robinson • 19-0 assist-turnover ratio last 6 games
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (5.0), 5th in steals (1.7), 7th in assists (3.3) and 8th in 3-point field goal % (41.7); Also sits 8th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (5.00) and 150th in steals per game (1.67)
Jordan Butler • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (2.7), 8th in defensive rebounds (4.4) and 12th in rebounding (6.2); Also stands 17th in the nation in blocks (2.67)
 • Ranks 20th in NSU career records in blocks (60)
Jonathan Wade • Averaging 10.0 points last 2 games on 8-of-17 shooting with 3.0 rebounds
So Far So GoodNSU, which ranked 282nd in the nation last year in free throw percentage, has improved its mark from 65.9 to 75.6 percent this season, good for 22nd in the nation. The Spartans are attempting to hit better than 70 percent this year for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
On Sunday against Northern Kentucky, NSU hit 18-of-19 (94.7 percent), breaking the previous Division I best of 94.4 percent (17-of-18) set on Dec. 19, 2006 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Spartans moved to Division I prior to the 1997-98 season.
Good Shootin'So far this year, Norfolk State is hitting 40.8 percent from beyond the arc with 64 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 (41.7 percent, 145-of-348). NSU's current 40.8 clip from long range ranks 22nd in the nation. Over the last six games, NSU is 45-of-102 (44.1 percent) from 3-point land. The Spartans also have four players ranked in the top 9 in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage and all shooting better than 41 percent.
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 eight of nine games this season. On the year, the Spartans are are shooting 43.8 percent overall in the second half and 38.9 percent in the first half, including 47.6 from 3-point range in the second but 33.3 in the first. The Spartans are thus averaging 40.0 points after halftime but just 31.8 before the intermission. NSU also has a +2.2 rebounding margin in the second half but a -1.3 margin in the first.
MEAC RankingsThe Spartans continue to lead the league in 3-point field goal percentage (40.8) and 3-pointers per game (7.1) while also ranking first in free throw percentage (75.6) and opponent rebounding (35.1), second in assist-turnover ratio (0.9) and third in scoring defense (72.8), field goal percentage defense (42.0), defensive rebound percentage (69.0), assists (11.6) and blocks (4.2).
Limit Those GiveawaysNSU had averaged 11.3 turnovers the last six games, and the Spartans on the season are averaging 12.9 per contest. The school record for fewest giveaways per game is 13.1 set in 1987-88.
Block PartyNSU has a 16-6 edge in blocks over the last three games. On the season, the Spartans 107th in the nation with 4.2 blocks per game.
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).
