Norfolk State Men's Basketball
Thursday, March 5; 7:30 p.m.
NSU at Hampton, HU Convocation Center
Radio: Star 1310 AM (joined-in-progress), Live Audio | Hot 91.1 FM, Live Audio
Live Stats | Live Video | Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - The last game of the regular season will double as the second installment of the Battle of the Bay this year when the Norfolk State men's basketball team takes on Hampton on Thursday night. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the HU Convocation Center.

The Spartans need a win over their arch-rival or a UMES loss against Morgan State to clinch the No. 2 seed in the MEAC tournament next week. Should NSU (with a loss) and UMES (with a win) finish tied in the standings, the Hawks would own the tiebreaker and thus grab the No. 2 seed. The Spartans would then finish at No. 3, which carries with it a potential Thursday-Friday-Saturday path to the tournament final, as opposed to the Wednesday-Friday-Saturday path for the second seed.

The Spartans stand 11-4 in MEAC play and 18-12 overall on the season. Hampton (12-16, 8-7 MEAC) is tied for fifth in the standings with Delaware State.

Media Coverage
The contest against the Pirates will be broadcast live on Hot 91.1 FM and joined-in-progress 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 stream.

Series History
NSU won the first meeting this year with the Pirates at Joseph Echols Hall, 63-60, on Jan. 31. That pushed NSU's all-time record to 82-43 against the Pirates. Should the Spartans prevail on Thursday, it would mark the eighth straight year one team swept the regular season meetings. NSU did so in 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2012-13, while the Pirates accomplished the feat in 2007-08, 2010-11 and 2013-14.

About Hampton
The Pirates fell to Delaware State on Monday by a 85-75 score. Hampton needs a win over NSU and a DSU loss to finish at the No. 5 seed, but the Pirates could also fall as far as No. 7 with a loss and a South Carolina State win. Dwight Meikle paces the way with team-leading totals of 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds. Reginald Johnson (11.0) and Quinton Chievous (10.5) also reach double figures in scoring, with Deron Powers and Brian Darden right behind them at 9.6 and 9.4 points per game, respectively. The Pirates' Achilles Heel has been 3-point shooting, as Hampton hits less than 30 percent from beyond the arc. The Pirates also average close to 65 points per game, although they have been above that total in each of the last five games.

Last Time Out
James Daniel hit a 3-pointer right before the buzzer in overtime to lift Howard to a 61-59 victory over NSU on Monday night in Washington, D.C. NSU was called for an offensive foul with 35.5 seconds left, giving the Bison one last shot at a win. That came after both teams had chances at the end of regulation, including an open-look 3-pointer by D'Shon Taylor at the buzzer. RaShid Gaston finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds for his 16th double-double of the year. Jeff Short was the only other Spartan in double figures with 14. NSU outscored Howard 40-28 in points in the paint and held the edge on the glass, 42-34. The Spartans hit just 1-of-12 from 3-point range and 36.7 percent overall (22-of-60).

Player Tidbits
Jeff Short
 • Averaging 18.9 points, 52.3 percent shooting, 35.7 percent 3-point shooting, 83.5 percent free throw shooting, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in MEAC games
 • Averaging 3.0 assists last 10 games and 5.0 rebounds in last nine games
 • Shooting 37-of-40 from the free throw line the last five games, including career-high 12-of-14 at Morgan State
 • Tallied at least 15 points in 22 of last 25 games; Scored 13 in two games and 14 in the other
 • Has scored in double figures in 25 straight and all but one game this year
 • Shooting 127-of-221 (57.5 percent) from 2-point range
 • Has sank a 3-pointer in all but four games this year
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in scoring (19.1), 3rd in free throw percentage (84.2), 4th in minutes (34.0), 5th in 3-point field goal percentage (38.5), 7th in 3-point field goals (2.0) and 8th in field goal percentage (49.6)
 • Stands 24th in the nation in scoring (19.1); Also ranks in total points (15, 573), total field goals (32, 187), free throw percentage (55, 84.2), field goal percentage (75, 49.6), minutes (153, 34:00) and 3-point field goals per game (206, 2.00)
 • Ranks 15th in the nation among guards in shooting percentage; Would rank 50th in 3-point field goal percentage but does not have enough makes on the year
 • Stands 5th in NSU D-I single season records in points scored (573); Also stands 1st in free throw percentage (.842), 4th in free throws (139), 5th in scoring average (19.1), 7th in field goals (187), 8th in 3-point field goals (60), 9th in free throw attempts (165), 10th in 3-point field goal attempts (156), 11th in field goal attempts (377) and 3-point field goal percentage (.385), and 15th in field goal percentage (.496); Also ranks 2nd in free throw percentage for overall single season records (See table page 6)
 • Stands 19th in NSU career records with 60 3-point field goals (See table page 7)

RaShid Gaston
 • Averaging 17.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 blocks and shooting 66.7 percent in MEAC games
 • Averaging 19.2 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 66.1 percent overall and 33-of-49 (67.3 percent) from the free throw line in the last six games
 • Recorded 16th double-double of season with 18 points and 15 rebounds at Howard; 2nd-highest rebounding game in his career
 • Had 11 offensive rebounds, tied for the NSU D-I record shared by Darrell Neal (Dec. 6, 1999) and tied for the fifth-most this year in NCAA Division I
 • Tied career highs in both makes (8) and attempts (12) from the free throw line
 • Named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week on March 2 after posting 16 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and one block against Coppin State
 • Fourth defensive player of the week honor - third in last four weeks - and fifth weekly MEAC honor overall this year
 • Also named defensive player of the week on Feb. 9 and 23 and Dec. 22 and player of the week on Dec. 8
 • 87-of-131 field goals (66.4 percent) last 13 games
 • 18 10+ rebound games this season
 • Has at least one block in 16 straight games
 • Has scored in double figures in 10 straight and 13 of the last 14 games
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in offensive rebounds (3.5), 2nd in rebounds (9.8), defensive rebounds (6.4) and field goal percentage (61.8), 7th in scoring (15.4) and 8th in blocks (1.2)
 • Stands 5th in the nation in field goal percentage (61.8) and 8th in double-doubles (16); Also ranks in offensive rebounds (19, 3.46), total rebounds (23, 275), rebounding (23, 9.8), defensive rebounds (33, 6.36), scoring (163, 15.4) and blocks (189, 1.21)
 • Ranks 28th in NCAA Division I in career double-doubles (21), 30th in field goal percentage (.571), 35th in rebounding average (7.6) and 112th in rebounds (593)
 • Stands 6th in NSU records with a .571 career shooting percentage and 16th in blocks (64) (See table page 7)
 • Ranks 3rd in NSU D-I single season records in field goal percentage (.618), 4th in rebounding average (9.8) and rebounds (275), 10th in blocks (34) and 11th in field goals (176); Also ranks 6th in field goal percentage for overall single season records (See table page 6)

Jamel Fuentes
 • Averaging 6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and shooting 11-of-21 in the last four games
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in assists (4.2) and 6th in assist-turnover ratio (1.9)
 • Stands 103rd in the nation in assists (4.2) and 128th in assist-turnover ratio (1.92)
 • Ranks 15th in NCAA Division I in career assists (535), 24th in assist-turnover ratio (1.90) and 64th in assist average (4.15)
 • Ranks 2nd all-time at NSU in assists with 535 (See table page 7) behind Billy Walker (1980-85)
 • Stands 2nd in games played (129) at NSU and 10th in career steals (147)
 • Ranks 4th in NSU D-I single season records with a 4.17 assist average and 4th in assists (121) (See table page 6)

D'Shon Taylor
 • Averaging 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and shooting 48.4 percent overall and 35.2 percent from 3-point range in MEAC games
 • Averaging 16.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 22-of-46 overall and 17-of-23 at the free throw line in the last four games
 • Averaging 6.0 rebounds last 10 games and 1.5 steals in last six games
 • 1+ blocks in eight of last 11 games
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (36.5), 13th in field goal percentage (45.4) and scoring (13.0) and 20th in rebounds (4.9)
 • Ranks 237th in the nation in double doubles (3)
 • Stands 14th in NSU D-I single season records with a .365 3-point field goal percentage (See table page 6)

Malik Thomas
 • Ranks 14th in the MEAC in blocks (0.9)
 • Averaging 2.4 assists in the last seven games
 • Stands 15th in NSU D-I single season records with 26 blocks (See table page 6)
 • Ranks 165th in NCAA Division I in career rebounds (527)

Jordan Butler
 • Ranks 9th in the MEAC in blocks (1.1) and 226th in the nation (1.11)
 • Stands 12th in NSU D-I single season records with 32 blocks (See table page 6)

LaTre'e Russell
 • Averaging 3.7 points, 2.3 rebounds in last 11 games

Zaynah Robinson
 • MEAC Rookie of the Week on March 2 after tallying five points, one rebound and one assist vs. Delaware State

Devonte Banner
 • Averaging 4.4 points on 8-of-19 field goals in last five games played

MEAC Standings
The Spartans stand alone in second place in the MEAC at 11-4, while North Carolina Central sits in first at 15-0. NSU is a game ahead of UMES (10-5), with Howard locked into the fourth seed at 10-6. All four teams have secured the tournament byes.

Better From the Line
After hitting less than 70 percent from the free throw line in 12 of the prior 13 games, NSU has now shot a combined 102-of-132 (77.3 percent) over the last five games. The team's 30-of-39 effort at Morgan State marked the most makes and attempts since setting the school records during a 41-of-62 night against Florida A&M on Dec. 5, 2013. The 22-of-25 effort at Coppin State (88.0 percent) marked the seventh-best shooting percentage in a game in the Division I era and the best since November of 2008.

Winning Big in the MEAC
Overall in conference play, NSU is averaging 74.1 points per game while shooting 50.8 percent overall and 35.2 percent from 3-point range. NSU has outrebounded foes by an average of 6.3 boards per contest while also holding them to 39.1 percent shooting and 28.8 percent from beyond the arc. Nine of NSU's 11 MEAC wins have been by double digits, the first time in the Division I era the Spartans have won eight conference games by 10 or more points and the first time overall since 1995-96.

Winning Record
NSU secured its fourth straight winning season with the victory at Coppin State. 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. The Spartans own an 84-49 record over the last four seasons, the best four-game stretch for the program since 1993-97 (94-26). NSU ranks second to North Carolina Central (90-36) during that time for the most overall wins in the MEAC.

With one more win, NSU will reach the 19-win plateau for the fourth straight season and tie for the third most victories in the D-I era.

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank No. 1 in the MEAC in rebounding margin (+5.0) and blocks (5.1). They also stand second in scoring margin (+4.1), field goal percentage (46.8), defensive rebounds (25.3), defensive rebound percentage (69.7) and offensive rebound percentage (35.3), as well as third in scoring offense (69.9), field goal percentage defense (40.7), rebounding (36.3), opponent rebounding (31.3), offensive rebound percentage (34.8), assists (13.4) and assist-turnover ratio (1.0).

NSU is the only school in the MEAC with three players ranked in the top 15 in scoring.

Shoot the 3
The team's 169 3-pointers on the season stand as the fifth-most all-time. Those top 5 seasons have all come within the last five years, including 2011-12 (198), 2013-14 (187), 2010-11 (176) and 2012-13 (172).

Block Party
Over the last 18 contests, the Spartans are averaging 6.2 blocks per game and have outblocked the opposition by a collective 112-62 margin. NSU had 10 at Savannah State, tied for the most in a game over the past 10 years.

NSU has 154 blocks this season, the third-most ever for the program. In fact, the top 4 seasons have all come within the past five years, including 2010-11 (183), 2011-12 (169) and 2012-13 (151).

Thanks for the Points
NSU has outscored 12 of its last 15 opponents in points off turnovers and has had fewer turnovers than the opposition in six of the last seven games. On the year the Spartans are averaging 14.8 points off turnovers per game compared to 14.1 for opponents.

NSU has had at least 12 points off turnovers in each of the last 13 games. The Spartans have also committed 13 or fewer turnovers in five of the last seven games.

Winning the Rebounding Battle
The Spartans have had the rebounding edge or been even on the glass in 24 of the 30 games this year. Dating back to last season, it also includes 35 of the last 42 opponents. On the season, the Spartans have a +5.0 rebounding margin, although they have grabbed just two more offensive rebounds total this year than the opposition.

Nationally Ranked
The Spartans rank 26th in the nation in blocks (5.1) as well as in the top 150 in total blocks (19, 154), rebound margin (35, +5.0), field goal percentage (40, 46.8), defensive rebounds (58, 25.27), field goal percentage defense (79, 40.7), total rebounds per game (83, 36.33), scoring offense (104, 69.9), win-loss percentage (113, 60.0), assists (117, 13.4), scoring margin (121, +4.1), offensive rebounds (147, 11.07), scoring defense (149, 65.8) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (149, 33.5).

Balanced Scoring?
NSU has four players averaging better than nine points per game, including leading scorer Jeff Short (19.1) as well as RaShid Gaston (15.4), D'Shon Taylor (13.0) and Malik Thomas (9.4). After those four, though, the next highest scorer is Jamel Fuentes at 3.1 points. Six players have tallied between 2.2 and 3.1 points per contest. NSU is getting outscored 19.8-14.9 in bench points this year.

A year after losing nearly 80 percent of its scoring from its senior class, NSU is now getting 79.0 percent of its scoring (1658-of-2098 points) from just four players. Those four have also combined for 84 of the team's 88 total double-digit scoring performances this year.

Specialty Stats
NSU has outscored the other team by an average of 7.2 more points in the paint (31.6-24.4). On the year, NSU has outscored or been even against 25 of its 30 opponents in points in the paint, including 11 straight from Nov. 22-Dec. 22. NSU has averaged 35.0 points in the paint in the last nine games.

Opponents have attempted 163 more 3-pointers on the season than NSU.

Winning the State
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU has the third-most wins (84) among the 14th Division I schools in the state of Virginia. The Spartans trail VCU (103) and Virginia (103).

Doubling Up
The Spartans have had 22 double-doubles on the season this year, including the most recent, an 18-point, 15-rebound effort by RaShid Gaston at Howard.