Norfolk State Men's Basketball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Norfolk State men's basketball team embarks on a 10-day trek that includes four games as part of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational. Up first on the trip is a date at Vanderbilt on Friday at 8 p.m. EST from VU's Memorial Gymnasium.
Media Coverage
The game will be shown live on the SEC Network+, available through the
WatchESPN app. Host Vanderbilt will also provide
live stats.
Series History
Norfolk State and Vanderbilt have met one other time, a contest two years ago at Memorial Gymnasium as part of the Barclays Center Classic. On Nov. 25, 2014, the Commodores walked away with a 63-53 win. It will mark the 10th time the Spartans have faced a current member of the SEC, and the sixth time they will do so over a three-year period. NSU has lost once each to Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State while defeating Missouri in the NCAAÂ tournament in 2012 when the Tigers were part of the Big 12
About Vanderbilt
The Commodores opened the year with a 24-point loss to Marquette in Annapolis, Md., as part of the Veterans Classic before rebounding to down Belmont by 14 on Tuesday night at home. Luke Kornet has tallied 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks during the first two games, with Matthew Fisher-Davis adding 14.0 points. Jeff Roberson (9.5 points, 9.0 rebounds) and Nolan Cressler (6.0 points, 7.0 rebounds) have also contributed in the early going for a Commodores team that's shot slightly better than 40 percent from 3-point range and been to the free throw line nearly 60 times.
Last Time Out
Norfolk State got a huge performance from senior
Jonathan Wade in coasting to a 91-55 win over Elizabeth City State on Tuesday night at Joseph Echols Hall. Wade shot 12-of-17 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, for a career-high 34 points. He had 22 in the first half alone to help NSU build a 20-point lead at the break. He added seven boards and three assists and was one of five players in double figures.
Kyle Williams (15 points, 5-of-8 3-pointers) and
Carrington Ward (13 points) were joined by
Bryan Gellineau (10 points, nine rebounds) and
Alex Long (10 points, six rebounds) in reaching double figures. The Spartans shot slightly better than 55 percent from the floor and 9-of-19 from 3-point range.
Pack Your Bags
NSU is in the midst of a 10-day road trip as part of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational. The Spartans play at Vanderbilt Friday and at Butler on Monday before flying out to Las Vegas for the second part of the tournament over Thanksgiving, all without returning to Norfolk until Nov. 26, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The contest at Vanderbilt will be the first of five straight games for the Spartans and will begin a stretch in which NSU plays 10 of 12 away from home.
Player Tidbits
Jonathan Wade
 • Scored career-high 34 points against Elizabeth City State, including 22 points in the 1st half
 • Hit 12-of-17 from the field, the first time an NSU player had at least 12 field goals in two years; Scored the most points by a Spartan player since Pendarvis Williams had 38 against Newberry on Nov. 13, 2013
 • Also had 3 assists to tie his career best
 • Started the season opener at Mississippi State and tallied career-high 12 rebounds with 18 points for first career double-double
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in scoring (22.3) and tied for 1st in 3-point field goal percentage (66.7). Also stands 3rd in rebounding (7.7), 7th in defensive rebounds (5.3), 9th in offensive rebounds (2.3) and 12th in field goal percentage (53.7) and 3-point field goals per game (2.0)
 • Ranks 19th in the nation in double doubles (1), 60th in scoring (22.3) and 217th in rebounds (7.7)
Zaynah Robinson
 • Career-high 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting at Mississippi State
 • Had career-high 6 rebounds vs. Shenandoah
 • Ranks tied for 1st in the MEAC in free throw percentage (1.000, 7-of-7) as well as 2nd in assists (4.7), 5th in minutes (34.7), 6th in assist-turnover ratio (3.5), 8th in steals (1.7), 10th in scoring (14.7) and 14th in field goal percentage (51.6)
 • Ranks 99th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (3.50) and 134th in both assists (4.7) and minutes (34:20)
Alex Long
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in defensive rebounds (5.7) and 7th in blocks (1.3) and rebounding (7.0); Also stands 199th in the nation in defensive rebounds (5.67)
Carrington Ward
 • Had career highs of 15 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks against Shenandoah
 • Tied career high with 5 rebounds against Elizabeth City State as well
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in field goal percentage (63.2), 10th in blocks (1.0) and 24th in scoring (10.7)
Dan Robinson
 • Had career highs of 7 points and 3 blocks at Mississippi State
 • Also had 3 blocks vs. Shenandoah and Elizabeth City State
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC and 26th in the nation in blocks (3.0)
Bryan Gellineau
 • Ranks 9th in the MEAC in offensive rebounds (2.3) and 15th in rebounding (5.7)
Kyle Williams
 • Ranks 10th in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.3) and 11th in 3-point field goal percentage (50.0)
ECSU Tidbits
NSU's 91-55 win over Elizabeth City State on Tuesday, the team's biggest win since an 88-49 victory over U.Va.-Wise on Dec. 15, 2014. The team's shooting percent of 55.6 (35-of-63) marked its best since hitting 55.6 percent (30-of-54) at Coppin State on Dec. 7 of last year. The Vikings also shot just 29.3 percent overall from the floor, the first time NSU held an opponent below 30 percent since Rhode Island connected on just 15-of-53 (28.3 percent) on Nov. 9, 2012.
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank first in the MEAC in scoring margin (+17.3), field goal percentage (50.6), rebound margin (+3.7) and blocks (7.0) as well as second in scoring offense (81.0), scoring defense (63.7), field goal percentage defense (36.4), rebounding (39.0), opponent rebounding (35.3) and defensive rebounds (29.3).
Nationally Ranked
As a team, NSU stands 20th in the nation in blocks (7.0), 54th in 3-point field goal percentage (41.4) and 56th in field goal percentage defense (36.4). The Spartans also rank in the top 100 in field goal percentage (64th, 50.6), scoring defense (77th, 63.7), scoring margin (84th, +17.3) and defensive rebounds (92nd, 29.33).
