Norfolk State Men's Basketball
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - From the Purple Eagles last Saturday to the Purple Aces this week, the Norfolk State men's basketball team plays its second straight road game when the Spartans compete at Evansville on Wednesday night. Tip-off from the Ford Center is set for 8 p.m. EST.
It will mark the second straight year NSU (2-8) will face the Purple Aces (6-4) on the road.
Media Coverage
The contest will be shown live on ESPN3, available through the
WatchESPN app. In addition, the Purple Aces will provide live stats through their
StatBroadcast link.
Series History
Evansville has won the previous three meetings with Norfolk State, including last year's 84-70 victory on Dec. 17, 2015. The Spartans also played the Purple Aces in Evansville right before the Christmas break in 2007-08 (80-71) and 2010-11 (87-69).
About Evansville
The contest against the Spartans will be Evansville's seventh home game so far this year. The Purple Aces currently stand 6-4 after winning their last four games, including wins over Boise State, Bowling Green and Murray State. Only three players score at least five points a game, including leading scorer Jaylon Brown (20.4). He is joined on offense by Ryan Taylor (14.8) and Willie Wiley (8.7). Brown and Taylor have combined for 28 of the team's 37 3-pointers, an average of just 3.7 per game. The Aces' defense has been strong, holding teams to 62.5 points and shooting percentages of 39.1 overall and 28.2 from 3-point range. Evansville owns a +2.8 turnover margin but is vulnerable on the glass, holding a -1.1 rebound margin with no player averaging more than five boards per game.
Last Time Out
Down by just two late in the game, NSU saw its chance for a win slip away when Niagara stole a last-possession pass. The swipe allowed the Purple Eagles to hold off the Spartans in a 65-61 win last Saturday. Kahlil Dukes played the hero for Niagara, making the steal and sinking two free throws to ice the win. NSU fell despite a 23-point effort from
Jonathan Wade and 16 points and 15 rebounds - both career highs - for
Alex Long. Niagara led for the last 17 minutes of the second half but never by more than nine. Norfolk State crept to within two several times and then finally got the deficit to one with 31.5 seconds left on a trey from
Zaynah Robinson. The Spartans, who made 35 percent overall, got no closer. Dominic Robb led the Purple Eagles with 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting. NSU made 11-of-11 from the free throw line and turned the ball over a season-low nine times.
Player Tidbits
Jonathan Wade
 • Averaging 22.8 points while shooting 37-of-70 overall last 4 games
 • Made 10-of-20 from the field at Niagara; 1st NSU player with 20 field goal attempts since Pendarvis Williams on Feb. 1, 2014
 • Has posted 10 assists last 5 games
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in scoring (20.4), 5th in minutes (33.2), 6th in 3-point field goal percentage (42.9), 8th in field goal percentage (49.3) and defensive rebounds (4.5), 10th in rebounding (5.8) and 11th in free throw percentage (73.7)
 • Ranks 45th in the nation in points (20.4), No. 143 in minutes (33:12), No. 169 in field goal percentage (49.3) and No. 238 in double doubles (1)
 • Stands No. 963 in NCAA Division I career records in points (398)
Zaynah Robinson
 • Tied career high with 6 rebounds at Niagara
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (3.3), 6th in minutes (33.1), 10th in assists (3.0) and 12th in steals (1.2)
 • Ranks 27th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (3.33) and No. 150 in minutes (33:06)
 • Stands No. 986 in NCAA Division I career records in points (391)
Jordan Butler
 • Has totaled 10 blocks last 5 games
 • Averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds last 2 games
 • Ranks 3rd all-time at NSU in blocks (120)
 • Stands 27th in NCAA Division I career records with a 1.62 blocks-per-game average, 29th with 120 total blocks, No. 246 in rebounds (360) and No. 963 in points (398)
Alex Long
 • Tallied career highs of 16 points, 15 rebounds and 32 minutes at Niagara and first career double-double
 • Became 1st NSU player with 15 rebounds since RaShid Gaston on March 2, 2015
 • Averaging 11.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.0 blocks last 3 games
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.8), 5th in rebounding (6.5), 7th in defensive rebounds (4.6) and 9th in offensive rebounds (1.9)
 • Ranks 67th in the nation in blocks (1.80) and No. 238 in double-doubles (1)
 • Stands No. 1,434 in NCAA Division I career records in points (250)
 • Named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12
Dan Robinson
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC and 185th in the nation in blocks (1.20)
Perfect from the Line
NSU shot 11-of-11 from the free throw line in the loss at Niagara. It marked the first time the Spartans made all of their charity stripe attempts in a game since Dec. 12, 2010. On that night, Norfolk State made 12-of-12 from the line at Maine.
Rejected
NSU still owns a 30-16 edge in blocks over the previous five games despite Niagara holding an 8-4 advantage on Saturday. On the year, NSU ranks 36th in the nation in blocks per game at 5.3.
Mixing and Matching
NSU has used seven different lineups in its 10 games this year, including six different sets of starting five in the last seven games.
Getting Back on Track
During its current seven-game losing streak, the Spartans have averaged just 58.3 points per game while shooting 37 percent overall and 30 percent from 3-point range. NSU is, however, +10 on the glass the last three games after going a combined -27 in the previous four contests.
The opposition, on the other hand, is hitting 45.5 percent from the field during that seven-game stretch, including 41.9 percent from 3-point range.
Halftime Adjustments
So far this season, the opposition has scored the same amount or more points in the second half than the first period in eight of NSU's 10 games.
Don't Foul
NSU has committed more fouls than the opposition in eight of its 10 games this year. The Spartans, however, have had less than 20 fouls each of the last five games (including a season-low 15 against NKU) after having at least 20 in each of the first five contests.
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank first in the MEAC in blocks (5.3) as well as second in rebounding margin (-0.6) and defensive rebound percentage (69.8), and third in scoring defense (71.4), scoring margin (-6.3), field goal percentage defense (42.7), opponent rebounding (36.1) and defensive rebounds (25.0).
Good from 3
Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 225 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.
