NSU Men's BasketballNORFOLK, Va. - After its second solid MEAC win of the season, the Norfolk State men's basketball will look to keep rolling when the Spartans host Bethune-Cookman on Monday night at Joseph Echols Hall. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. or approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game.
Media CoverageThe game will be broadcast live on Star 1310 AM as well as Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon and Aaron Clark 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.
Fans can also follow along with the
live stats and the
live video feed. The live video feed also carries the radio broadcast.
Series HistoryNSU has won the last two and five of the last six games against Bethune-Cookman to extend its lead in the all-time series to 18-11. The Spartans won last year's meeting in Daytona Beach by 24, the second-biggest victory by either team in the series.
About Bethune-CookmanThe Wildcats have lost eight straight, including most recently on Saturday at Hampton by a 75-70 score. On the year, Bethune-Cookman owns a 4-12 record and a 1-1 MEAC mark, having defeated South Carolina State in December. B-CU ranks first in the league in 3-pointers per game (7.4), blocks (5.5) and steals (7.6), with NSU second in 3-pointers and blocks. The Wildcats shoot less than 31 percent from 3-point range, with Jordan Potts leading the way with 41 total treys and a team-best 16.2 points and 4.0 assists per game. Mario Moody (11.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks) and LaRon Smith (6.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks) do most of the work on the boards and in the shot-blocking department. Ricky Johnson also tallies 10.0 points for an offense that averages 71 points but also gives up almost 79 per game. Opponents are shooting better than 46 percent overall, averaging slightly more than eight 3-pointers and outrebounding B-CU by 4.6 boards per game.
Last Time OutNSU outscored Florida A&M by 17 in the second half on the way to a 77-56 win over the Rattlers on Saturday at Joseph Echols Hall. NSU shot 50 percent in the second half to remain one of just two teams in the league without a loss.
Jeff Short hit 6-of-11 for 15 points, while
D'Shon Taylor added a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. NSU used a 12-1 run near the end of the game to pull ahead by 20. The Spartans went into the half up by a 27-23 score after a first half of runs by both teams. They outscored FAMU 30-16 in points in the paint, 21-6 in points off turnovers and 10-2 in fastbreak points.
Charles Oliver also scored in double figures with 12, while
Alex Long had a career-best 11. The Rattlers hit 30.4 percent overall from the floor, the lowest shooting percentage by an NSU opponent in two years when B-CU hit 30.2 percent on Dec. 7, 2013.
Player TidbitsJeff Short• Needs 72 points to reach 1,000 for his NSU career; Attempting to become 35th all-time 1,000-point scorer at NSU and the seventh to do so in two years (Ralph Tally, David Pope, James Grant, Damian Woolfolk, Corey Williams, Marcus Whitfield)
 • Reached the 1,000-point plateau (combined NSU and Fordham) with his 22-point outing at Evansville
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in scoring (16.5), 5th in free throw % (82.4) and 3-point field goal % (40.5), 10th in 3-point field goals (2.0) and 14th in defensive rebounds (3.9); Sits 131st in the nation in free throw % (82.4) and 159th in points per game (16.5)
• Stands 77th in NCAA D-I in career scoring average (12.9) and 129th in points (1,110)
 • Ranks 7th in NSU career records in 3-point field goal percentage (.398), 12th in 3-point field goals (103) and 15th in 3-point field goal attempts (259)
 • Averaging 2.9 assists last 7 games, 5.5 rebounds last 6 games and shooting 20-of-42 from the field last 4 games
 • Has scored in double figures in seven straight games
D'Shon Taylor • Had 5th career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds against Florida A&M
 • Averaging 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 13-of-26 overall last 2 games
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in free throw % (79.6), 12th in 3-point field goal % (35.8), 14th in field goal % (44.9) and 18th in scoring (12.1) and rebounding (5.3); Also sits 205th in the nation in free throw % (79.6)
 • Ranks 17th in NSU career records in 3-point field goal % (.356) and 18th in 3-point field goals (69) and 3-point field goal attempts (194)
Charles Oliver • 48-of-55 (87.3 %) in free throws over the last 12 games
 • Averaging 16.5 points on 12-of-23 shooting last 2 games
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in free throw % (82.7), 13th in 3-point field goals (1.6) and 17th in scoring (12.2); Sits 121st in the nation in free throw % (82.7)
Zaynah Robinson • 36-4 assist-turnover ratio last 14 games
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (43.2), 9th in steals (1.4) and 12th in assists (2.8)
Jordan Butler • Averaging 6.5 points and 8.7 rebounds last 6 games
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in blocks (2.2), 7th in rebounds (7.0) and defensive rebounds (4.7) and 9th in offensive rebounds (2.3); Also stands 31st in the nation in blocks (2.24), 200th in rebounds (7.0), 238th in offensive rebounds (2.29) and 244th in defensive rebounds (4.71)
 • Ranks 13th in NSU career records in blocks (74)
Preston Bungei • 19-of-23 from the free throw line last 10 games
 • 2.3 blocks last 3 games
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in blocks (1.0)
Big WinsNSU has won its first two MEAC games this year by an average of 26.5 points per game. Its 32-point victory over Coppin State marked the Spartans' biggest victory against a 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).
Nice to be HomeAfter playing 13 of the first 15 games of the season on the road, NSU returned home to face Princeton on Jan. 5. Starting with that contest, NSU will leave the Hampton Roads area just once for the rest of January, a trip to North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T next weekend.
MEAC StandingsNSU (2-0) and Hampton (3-0) are the only two teams without a loss so far this year in MEAC play. Three teams also sit right behind NSU at 2-1. The Spartans have finished in the top 2 in the regular season standings in three of the last four years.
Good from the LineNSU, which ranked 282nd in the nation last year in free throw percentage, has improved its mark from 65.9 to 77.0 percent this season, which currently ranks sixth in the nation. The Spartans are attempting to hit better than 70 percent this year for the first time since the 2003-04 season. The school record stands at 72.3 set in 1968-69. NSU has now hit 157-of-195 (80.5 percent) over the last 10 games. In addition, the Spartans have shot 79-of-96 (82.3 percent) in the last five minutes of its games this year.
Good Shootin'So far this year, Norfolk State is hitting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc with 121 total treys, a year after making 190 for the second-most ever in a season in program history. NSU's current clip from long range ranks 63rd in the nation. The school's Division I record stands at 35.7 percent set in 1998-99.
Better in the 2ndNSU has scored more points in the second half than the first in 13 of 17 games this season. The Spartans are averaging 38.4 points after halftime but just 31.0 before the intermission. On the year, the Spartans are shooting 40.1 from 3-point range in the second but 34.2 in the first half, and NSU has also shot 181-of-227 (79.7 percent) from the free throw line after intermission but just 101-of-139 (72.7 percent) beforehand. The Spartans also have a -1.8 rebound margin in the first half and a +2.1 margin in the second half.
MEAC RankingsThe Spartans continue to lead the league in 3-point field goal percentage (37.3), with the second highest team at 34.5. NSU also ranks first in free throw percentage (77.0), second in scoring defense (73.2), field goal percentage defense (43.7), 3-pointers per game (7.1), opponent rebounding (34.5) and blocks (4.4) and third in rebounding margin (+0.4), defensive rebound percentage (68.9) and assist-turnover ratio (0.9).
Best in the ConferenceSince the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU is 54-12 in regular season conference play (26-7 at home, 28-5 on the road), second in the MEAC over that period of time behind North Carolina Central (57-10). Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 60-15, while the Eagles are 62-13 during that time.
Limit Those GiveawaysThe Spartans on the season are averaging 12.6 turnovers per contest. The school record for fewest giveaways per game is 13.1 set in 1987-88. NSU has committed just 10.4 turnovers the last five games. NSU had six against Princeton, tied for the fewest in a game over the last two seasons.
Good from 3Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 198 straight games, dating back to a contest at South Carolina State on Jan. 25, 2010, when NSU finished 0-of-17 from 3-point range.
Ahead at the HalfThe Spartans are 72-12 (85.7 winning percentage) since the start of the 2011-12 season when leading or tied at the half. NSU lost its first game this season, when ahead at the break, in the setback at Evansville. The Spartans are 5-1 this year when leading or tied at the half but just 1-10 when trailing.
