Norfolk State Men's Basketball
Saturday, Feb. 7; 6 p.m.
NSU vs. Howard, Joseph Echols Hall
Radio: Star 1310 AM (Tape Delayed) | Hot 91.1 FM, Live Audio
Live Video | Live Stats | Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State men's basketball team will face the second 'HU' in a row when the Spartans take on third-place Howard on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

Howard enters the contest in third place in the MEAC standings at 6-2, while NSU owns an 8-1 record in conference play so far. The Spartans also stand 15-9 overall. They sit alone in second place in the conference standings behind North Carolina Central (9-0).

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Hot 91.1 FM as well as tape delayed on Star 1310 AM 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 won nine in a row over Howard and 18 of the last 20, with the Bison's last victory in the series coming during the 2009-10 season. Six of those nine straight wins have been by double digits, and the Spartans now have a 38-9 lead in the all-time series. NSU is 13-2 against the Bison at home since moving to Division I.

About Howard
The Bison have been the surprise team in the MEAC, which includes their overall 12-10 record. They score and allow teams to score in the low 60's, with most of that scoring coming from just three players. James Daniel leads the way with 16.8 points per game, while James Carlton has come on of late and is now averaging 15.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest. James Miller also scores in double figures at 12.3, with the next closest player at less than 5 points. The Bison hit just 29.6 percent from beyond the arc but better than 42 percent overall. Opponents have hit less than 38 percent overall and slightly better than 30 percent from 3-point range. Howard, though, averages nearly three assists less per game than the opposition despite having more field goals on the season. The Bison also turn the ball over nearly 16 times per game.

Last Time Out
A late 11-2 run propelled NSU past Hampton last Saturday in a 63-60 win in the Battle of the Bay at Echols Hall. The game featured 12 lead changes, including eight in the second half. A standing-room only crowd of nearly 5,000 saw the Spartans hit just 2-of-14 from 3-point range and 25-of-59 overall (42.4 percent). D'Shon Taylor led NSU with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting with eight rebounds. Junior Jeff Short added 15 points, and junior RaShid Gaston totaled 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists. NSU led by six at the break and by nine early in the second half. The Pirates held a seven-point lead with less than nine minutes remaining before NSU made its comeback. The Spartans had just eight turnovers on the night.

Player Tidbits
Jeff Short
 • Named to Lou Henson Award mid-season watch list by CollegeInsider.com for top mid-major player in nation
 • Averaging 20.4 points, 59.6 percent shooting, 42.2 percent 3-point shooting and 2.0 assists in MEAC games
 • 20.6 points, 57.7 percent shooting and 1.9 assists last eight games, including 2.5 assists last four games
 • Also averaging 22.0 points, 55.9 percent shooting, 42.5 percent 3-pointers, 81.4 percent free throws last 14 games; Has led the team in scoring nine of those 14 contests
 • Has scored at least 15 points in 19 straight games and in double figures in all but one game
 • Shooting 107-of-181 (59.1 percent) from 2-point range
 • Has sank a 3-pointer in all but two games this year (Mount St. Mary's, Hampton)
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in scoring (19.8), 2nd in 3-point field goal percentage (41.2), 4th in 3-point field goals (2.3), free throw percentage (83.1) and minutes (34.2) and 5th in field goal percentage (51.6)
 • Stands 18th in the nation in scoring (19.8); Also ranks in total points (4, 474), total field goals (11, 161), field goal percentage (66, 51.6), free throw percentage (96, 83.1), minutes (116, 34:10) and 3-point field goals per game (137, 2.25)
 • Ranks 11th in the nation among guards in shooting percentage; Would rank 39th in 3-point field goal percentage but does not have enough makes on the year
 • Stands 13th in NSU D-I single season records in points scored (474); Also stands 3rd in free throw percentage (.831), 5th in scoring average (19.8) and 3-point field goal percentage (.412), 10th in 3-point field goals (54), 13th in field goals (161), 14th in field goal percentage (.506) and 15th in free throws made (98); Also ranks 5th in free throw percentage for overall single season records and 13th in 3-point field goal percentage

RaShid Gaston
 • Averaging 16.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 67.0 percent shooting in MEAC games
 • 46-of-69 field goals (66.7 percent) and 2.3 assists last seven games
 • 14 10+ rebound games in last 19 contests
 • Has at least one block in 10 straight games
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in rebounds (9.6), defensive rebounds (6.7) and field goal percentage (60.5), 4th in offensive rebounds (3.0), 8th in scoring (14.4) and 9th in blocks (1.1)
 • Stands 7th in the nation in field goal percentage (60.5) and 9th in double-doubles (12); Also ranks in total rebounds (18, 212), rebounding (23, 9.6), defensive rebounds (25, 6.68), offensive rebounds (61, 2.95), blocks (221, 1.14) and scoring (242, 14.4)
 • Ranks 31st in NCAA Division I in career field goal percentage (.561), 35th in double-doubles (17) and 37th in rebounding average (7.4)
 • Stands 8th in NSU records with a .561 career shooting percentage
 • Ranks 4th in NSU D-I single season records with a 9.6 rebounding average as well as 5th in field goal percentage (.605), 10th in rebounds (212) and 14th in blocks (25); Also ranks 10th in field goal percentage for overall single season records

Jamel Fuentes
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in assists (4.3) and 5th in assist-turnover ratio (1.8)
 • Stands 97th in the nation in assists (4.3) and 156th in assist-turnover ratio (1.81)
 • Ranks 14th in NCAA Division I in career assists (512), 19th in assist-turnover ratio (1.88), 42nd in games played (123) and 52nd in assist average (4.16)
 • Ranks 2nd all-time at NSU in assists with 512 behind Billy Walker (1980-85)
 • Stands 3rd in games played (123) at NSU and 10th in career steals (139)
 • Ranks 4th in NSU D-I single season records with a 4.26 assist average as well as 9th in assists (98)

D'Shon Taylor
 • Averaging 14.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and shooting 51.7 percent overall and 43.9 percent from 3-point range in MEAC games
 • Shooting 29-of-54 (53.7 percent) last six games
 • 15.0 points last three games and 6.0 rebounds last five games
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (40.6), 13th in field goal percentage (45.8) and 15th in scoring (12.7)
 • Stand 7th in NSU D-I single season records with a .406 3-point field goal percentage; Also ranks 15th in 3-point field goal percentage for overall single season records

Malik Thomas
 • 2.4 blocks last seven games played
 • Tied career high with five assists vs. Hampton
 • Ranks 10th in the MEAC in blocks (1.1) and 20th in rebounding (4.8)
 • Stands 241st in the nation in blocks (1.09)

Jordan Butler
 • 4.5 rebounds last 10 games played
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in blocks (1.3) and 173rd in the nation (1.26)
 • Stands 13th in NSU D-I single season records with 26 blocks

LaTre'e Russell
 • 3.9 points, 2.4 rebounds last seven games played
 • Career-high five rebounds vs. Hampton

Zaynah Robinson
 • 4.5 points last four games
 • 1.7 assists last nine games

Strong Defense
Over the last seven games, NSU has held opponents to just 36.6 percent shooting, including 23.2 percent from 3-point range. The Spartans, on the other hand, have hit 53.8 percent overall and 37.3 percent from 3-point range during that time.

MEAC Standings
The Spartans stand alone in second place in the MEAC at 8-1, while North Carolina Central sits in first at 9-0. Howard is the only other school with less than three losses (6-2). UMES and South Carolina State (6-3) and Delaware State (4-3) round out the top of the conference standings.

Fast MEAC Start
NSU's 8-1 record so far this year in conference play marks the third time in four years the Spartans have been 8-1 or better after nine MEAC games. NSU started the 2012-13 seasons 9-0 and the 2011-12 season 8-1.

Winning Big in the MEAC
The Spartans have averaged 74.0 points in MEAC games so far this year while shooting 54.6 percent overall and 40.0 percent from 3-point range. NSU has outrebounded foes by an average of 7.7 boards per contest while also holding them to 36.4 percent shooting and 23.3 percent from beyond the arc. Seven of NSU's eight MEAC wins have been by double digits, the first time since 2004-05 the Spartans won seven conference games by 10 or more points.

Best in the Conference
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU is 48-9 in regular season conference play, second in the MEAC over that period of time behind North Carolina Central (49-8). Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 53-11, while the Eagles are 53-10 during that time.

Conference Streak
NSU has already secured its 17th straight season with a .500 or better record in the MEAC. In fact, in Norfolk State's 60 seasons in a conference including 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 rebounding margin (+5.2), defensive rebound percentage (70.6) and blocks (5.3). They also stand second in scoring margin (+4.8), field goal percentage (47.2), opponent rebounding (31.3), defensive rebounds (25.9) and assist-turnover ratio (0.9), as well as third in scoring offense (68.9), field goal percentage defense (40.0), 3-point field goal percentage (35.5), rebounding (36.5) and assists (13.3).

Block Party
Over the last 12 contests, the Spartans are averaging 7.0 blocks per game and have outblocked the opposition by a collective 84-32 margin. NSU had 10 at Savannah State, tied for the most in a game over the past 10 years.

On Fire
The Spartans have shot at least 44 percent in 14 of the last 19 contests and less than 40 percent just twice during that time. NSU's current 47.2 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 35.5 percent 3-point shooting is also the best since 1998-99 (35.7).

So far this season, the Spartans are 14-2 when they outshoot their opponents from the floor and 13-0 this year when outshooting teams from 3-point range.

Winning the Rebounding Battle
The Spartans have had the rebounding edge or been even on the glass in 19 of the 24 games this year, including 18 of the last 21 contests. Dating back to last season, it also includes 30 of the last 36 opponents. On the season, the Spartans have a +5.2 rebounding margin, although opponents have grabbed two more offensive rebounds on the year.

Thanks for the Points
NSU has outscored eight of its last nine opponents in points off turnovers, although in nine of the last 11 games NSU has had the same amount or more turnovers than the opposition. On the year the Spartans are averaging 14.5 points off turnovers per game compared to 13.8 for opponents.

Nationally Ranked
The Spartans rank 24th in the nation in blocks (5.3) as well as in the top 150 in total blocks (13, 126), total rebounds (20, 877), field goal percentage (38, 47.2), rebound margin (38, +5.3), defensive rebounds (50, 25.88), field goal percentage defense (70, 40.0), total rebounds per game (80, 36.54), win-loss percentage (111, 62.5), scoring margin (116, +4.8), scoring defense (120, 64.1), 3-point field goal percentage defense (124, 32.6), 3-point field goal percentage (128, 35.5), scoring offense (139, 68.9) and assists (141, 13.3).

Don't Foul 'Em
NSU has had the same amount or more fouls than the opposition in eight of the last 11 games.

Balanced Scoring?
NSU has four players averaging better than nine points per game, including leading scorer Jeff Short (19.8) as well as RaShid Gaston (14.4), D'Shon Taylor (12.7) and Malik Thomas (9.3). After those four, though, the next highest scorer is LaTre'e Russell at 3.0 points. Six players have tallied between 2.1 and 3.0 points per contest, as NSU is getting outscored 20.5-13.0 in bench points this year.

A year after losing nearly 80 percent of its scoring from its senior class, NSU is now getting 78.6 percent of its scoring (1299-of-1653 points) from just four players.

Better After the Break
NSU has scored more points in the second half than the first half in 17 of the last 21 games.

Specialty Stats
NSU has outscored the other team by an average of 7.1 more points in the paint (31.2-24.1). On the year, NSU has outscored or been even against 20 of its 24 opponents in points in the paint, including 11 straight from Nov. 22-Dec. 22. Over the past four games, NSU is averaging 35.8 points in the paint.

Opponents have attempted 121 more 3-pointers on the season than NSU.

Winning Record
NSU is aiming for its fourth straight winning season this year. Prior to the start of that streak in 2011-12, NSU had a winning record just twice in 14 seasons since moving to Division I in 1997.