Norfolk State Men's Basketball
Monday, Feb. 9; 8 p.m.
NSU vs. UMES, Joseph Echols Hall
Radio: Star 1310 AM, Live Audio | Hot 91.1 FM, Live Audio
Live Video | Live Stats | Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State will play its second-to-last home game of the year and finish up a three-game homestand when the Spartan men's basketball team hosts UMES on Monday night. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

Winners of five in a row and seven of the last eight, the Spartans carry a 16-9 record into the matchup, including 9-1 in MEAC play. The contest will mark the second of just five games NSU will play in February.

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Star 1310 AM and Hot 91.1 FM 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 seven in a row over the Hawks, pushing its all-time record against UMES to 42-16. The Spartans have won 23 of the last 25 meetings dating back to the 2001-02 season. UMES is also NSU's oldest rivalry among all MEAC schools, as the teams first met in 1953-54.

About UMES
The Hawks have dropped two in a row to Howard and Hampton to fall to 6-4 in league play and 13-12 overall. UMES, though, remains a dangerous team. It is led by MIchael Myers, who tallies team bests of 15.5 points and 7.0 rebounds. He has also gotten to the free throw line 224 times in 25 games. Devin Martin (13.0 points), Devon Walker (10.0) and Ryan Andino (7.2) also score, and all three shoot better than 40 percent from 3-point range. As a team, UMES shoots better than 44 percent overall and 38 percent from long range. Opposing teams have hit better than 45 percent against the Hawks, who also turn the ball over nearly 15 and a half times per game.

Last Time Out
After more than 40 fouls and 40 turnovers combined between the two teams, Norfolk State finally edged past Howard by a 72-69 score on Saturday at Echols Hall. The Spartans were up by 10 in the first half and 11 in the second, but both times Howard made runs to climb back. A 14-3 spurt late in the game tied it up at 63-all, but NSU pulled ahead by five. The Spartans sank 5-of-10 from the free throw line in the last few minutes of the contest, allowing Howard's James Daniel to get a clean look at a 3-pointer in the last second of play. His shot clanked off the iron, keeping the Spartans a game behind N.C. Central in the MEAC standings. RaShid Gaston led the way with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while D'Shon Taylor also tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. Malik Thomas added 16 points for the Spartans.

Player Tidbits
Jeff Short
 • Averaging 19.7 points, 59.0 percent shooting, 42.6 percent 3-point shooting and 2.0 assists in MEAC games
 • Shooting 57.1 percent over the last nine games and averaging 2.4 assists last five games
 • Tallied at least 15 points in 19 straight games before posting 13 against Howard
 • Has scored in double figures in all but one game this year
 • Shooting 110-of-187 (58.8 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 (19.5), 3rd in 3-point field goal percentage (41.4), 5th in field goal percentage (51.6), free throw percentage (81.6) and minutes (33.7) and 6th in 3-point field goals (2.2)
 • Stands 20th in the nation in scoring (19.5); Also ranks in total points (5, 487), total field goals (12, 165), field goal percentage (62, 51.6), free throw percentage (116, 81.6), minutes (149, 33:43) and 3-point field goals per game (150, 2.20)
 • Ranks 10th in the nation among guards in shooting percentage; Would rank 37th in 3-point field goal percentage but does not have enough makes on the year
 • Stands 11th in NSU D-I single season records in points scored (487); Also stands 5th in free throw percentage (.816), scoring average (19.5) and 3-point field goal percentage (.414), 10th in 3-point field goals (55), 12th in field goals (165), 13th in free throws made (102) and 14th in field goal percentage (.516); Also ranks 11th in free throw percentage for overall single season records and 13th in 3-point field goal percentage

RaShid Gaston
 • Averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and shooting 67.6 percent in MEAC games
 • Averaging 15.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 blocks while shooting 64.1 percent (25-of-39) in the last four games
 • 52-of-77 field goals (67.5 percent) and 2.4 assists last eight games
 • 15 10+ rebound games in last 20 contests
 • Has at least one block in 11 straight games
 • Recorded 12th double-double of season with 17 points and 14 rebounds against Howard
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in rebounds (9.8), defensive rebounds (6.7) and field goal percentage (61.0), 4th in offensive rebounds (3.1), 8th in scoring (14.5) and 9th in blocks (1.2)
 • Stands 7th in the nation in field goal percentage (61.0) and 12th in double-doubles (13); Also ranks in total rebounds (18, 226), rebounding (22, 9.8), defensive rebounds (27, 6.70), offensive rebounds (49, 3.13), blocks (193, 1.22) and scoring (231, 14.5)
 • Ranks 31st in NCAA Division I in career field goal percentage (.563), 34th in double-doubles (18), 39th in rebounding average (7.5) and 122nd in rebounds (544)
 • Stands 7th in NSU records with a .563 career shooting percentage
 • Ranks 4th in NSU D-I single season records with a 9.8 rebounding average and field goal percentage (.610), 7th in rebounds (226) and 13th in blocks (28); Also ranks 9th in field goal percentage for overall single season records

Jamel Fuentes
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in assists (4.3) and 6th in assist-turnover ratio (1.8)
 • Stands 90th in the nation in assists (4.3) and 155th in assist-turnover ratio (1.82)
 • Ranks 14th in NCAA Division I in career assists (518), 19th in assist-turnover ratio (1.88), 44th in games played (124) and 52nd in assist average (4.18)
 • Ranks 2nd all-time at NSU in assists with 518 behind Billy Walker (1980-85)
 • Stands 3rd in games played (124) at NSU and 10th in career steals (140)
 • Ranks 4th in NSU D-I single season records with a 4.33 assist average as well as 6th in assists (104)

D'Shon Taylor
 • Averaging 14.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and shooting 50.5 percent overall and 40.4 percent from 3-point range in MEAC games
 • Shooting 33-of-64 (51.6 percent) last eight games
 • 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds and shooting 56.8 percent (21-of-37) last four games
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (39.2) and 14th in field goal percentage (45.6), offensive rebounds (1.7) and scoring (12.6)
 • Ranks 176th in the nation in double doubles (3)
 • Stands 10th in NSU D-I single season records with a .392 3-point field goal percentage

Malik Thomas
 • 2.1 blocks last eight games played
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in blocks (1.1)

Jordan Butler
 • 4.3 rebounds last 11 games played
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in blocks (1.3) and 182nd in the nation (1.25)
 • Stands 11th in NSU D-I single season records with 30 blocks

LaTre'e Russell
 • 3.6 points, 2.3 rebounds last eight games played

Zaynah Robinson
 • 1.6 assists last 10 games

Devonte Banner
 • Career-high eight points vs. Howard

Strong Defense
Over the last eight games, all in league play, NSU has held opponents to just 37.4 percent shooting, including 26.1 percent from 3-point range. The Spartans, on the other hand, have hit 53.1 percent overall and 35.7 percent from 3-point range during that time.

MEAC Standings
The Spartans stand alone in second place in the MEAC at 9-1, while North Carolina Central sits in first at 10-0. NSU made strides in securing a top 2 seed in the MEAC tournament with the victory over Howard. The Bison are the only other school with less than four losses in conference play (6-3).

Fast MEAC Start
NSU's 9-1 record so far this year in conference play marks the fourth straight year the Spartans have been 8-2 or better after 10 MEAC games. NSU started the 2012-13 season 10-0 and the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons 8-2.

Winning Big in the MEAC
The Spartans have averaged 73.8 points in MEAC games so far this year while shooting 54.0 percent overall and 38.5 percent from 3-point range. NSU has outrebounded foes by an average of 8.1 boards per contest while also holding them to 37.0 percent shooting and 25.3 percent from beyond the arc. Seven of NSU's nine 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 49-9 in regular season conference play, second in the MEAC over that period of time behind North Carolina Central (50-8). Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 54-11, while the Eagles are 54-10 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).

NSU is tied for 10th in the nation with Wisconsin and Florida for the longest streak of .500-or-better conference records in a row (See table page 6). Coming into the year, only nine other schools had longer Division I streaks than the Spartans.

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.

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank No. 1 in the MEAC in rebounding margin (+5.5), defensive rebound percentage (70.6) and blocks (5.3). They also stand second in scoring offense (69.0), scoring margin (+4.7), field goal percentage (47.2), rebounding (36.5), opponent rebounding (31.0), defensive rebounds (25.6) and assist-turnover ratio (0.9), as well as third in field goal percentage defense (40.1), 3-point field goal percentage (35.1) and assists (13.4).

Block Party
Over the last 13 contests, the Spartans are averaging 6.9 blocks per game and have outblocked the opposition by a collective 90-36 margin. NSU had 10 at Savannah State, tied for the most in a game over the past 10 years.

Doubling Up
The Spartans have had 18 double-doubles, and for the third time this year NSU had two players do so in the same contest. RaShid Gaston (17 points, 14 rebounds) and D'Shon Taylor (12 points, 10 rebounds) accomplished the feat against Howard. It was also the fourth game this year two Spartan players reached double figures in rebounds.

Winning the Rebounding Battle
The Spartans have had the rebounding edge or been even on the glass in 20 of the 25 games this year, including 19 of the last 22 contests. Dating back to last season, it also includes 31 of the last 37 opponents. On the season, the Spartans have a +5.5 rebounding margin, although NSU has grabbed only six more offensive rebounds on the year.

Thanks for the Points
NSU has outscored nine of its last 10 opponents in points off turnovers, although in nine of the last 12 games NSU has had the same amount or more turnovers than the opposition. On the year the Spartans are averaging 14.8 points off turnovers per game compared to 14.0 for opponents.

Nationally Ranked
The Spartans rank 21st in the nation in blocks (5.3) as well as in the top 150 in total blocks (13, 132), total rebounds (25, 912), rebound margin (32, +5.5), field goal percentage (34, 47.2), defensive rebounds (59, 25.60), field goal percentage defense (73, 40.1), total rebounds per game (77, 36.48), win-loss percentage (94, 64.0), scoring margin (120, +4.7), scoring defense (121, 64.3), assists (127, 13.4), 3-point field goal percentage (135, 35.1), scoring offense (135, 69.0) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (143, 33.1).

Balanced Scoring?
NSU has four players averaging better than nine points per game, including leading scorer Jeff Short (19.5) as well as RaShid Gaston (14.5), D'Shon Taylor (12.6) and Malik Thomas (9.6). After those four, though, the next highest scorer is LaTre'e Russell at 2.9 points. Six players have tallied between 2.2 and 2.9 points per contest, as NSU is getting outscored 20.0-13.6 in bench points this year.

A year after losing nearly 80 percent of its scoring from its senior class, NSU is now getting 78.7 percent of its scoring (1357-of-1725 points) from just four players.

Specialty Stats
NSU has outscored the other team by an average of 7.2 more points in the paint (31.2-24.0). On the year, NSU has outscored or been even against 21 of its 25 opponents in points in the paint, including 11 straight from Nov. 22-Dec. 22. Over the past four games, NSU is averaging 35.0 points in the paint.

Ahead at the Half
The Spartans are 66-8 since the start of the 2011-12 season when leading or tied at the half. They also have four wins this year when trailing at the half after winning just one game last year.