Norfolk State Men's Basketball

NSU vs. Northern Kentucky	Saturday, Dec. 3	6 p.m.	Joseph Echols Hall
Radio: Star 1310 AM or Hot 91.1 FM	Live Stats	Live Video	Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - At home for the first time in two and a half weeks, the Norfolk State men's basketball team looks to right the ship on Saturday when the Spartans host Northern Kentucky at 6 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.
 
NSU is attempting to break out of a slump and end a five-game losing streak while completing a home-and-home series with the Norse. Both of the Spartans' wins this year came at home.
 
Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Star 1310 AM as well as Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon and Julee O'Neal 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 History
The two teams have met one other time in their history, an 81-60 victory for NKU on Dec. 13, 2015 at Northern Kentucky.
 
About Northern Kentucky
The Norse own a 4-3 record on the year, which includes a loss to one of NSU's MEAC brethren, North Carolina Central, by an 82-74 score. Most recently, NKU defeated Morehead State, 84-79. Drew McDonald had 32 points and 11 rebounds in the win, and on the season he averages team-bests of 20.9 points and 8.9 rebounds. He is one of the reasons NKU has a +9.4 edge on the boards this season. The Norse average 77 points per game, with Lavone Holland II (13.7 points, 4.1 assists) and Carson Williams (10.1 points, 6.0 rebounds) also reaching double figures in scoring. The team does make nearly eight 3-pointers a game despite shooting just 32 percent, part of an overall shooting percentage of 45.5 percent from the floor. The Norse have been struggling from the free throw line (62.1 percent) while also turning the ball over two more times per game than the opposition. Opponents score 71 points per game and hit exactly 37 percent from long range against NKU. Cole Murray (7.1 points) and Jeff Garrett (5.3 points, 7.0 rebounds) are two other names to look out for.
 
Last Time Out
Loyola Chicago led the entire second half but by just one on five separate occasions before a late 12-0 run finally sealed a 75-62 win over the Spartans on Wednesday night in Chicago at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers led by as much as 15 in the first half before NSU scored the last seven points to go into the intermission down 32-24. Jonathan Wade added 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting, part of an overall team effort of 47.3 percent (26-of-55). Clayton Custer scored a game-high 20 points on just 6-of-8 shooting to lead the Ramblers. Aundre Jackson added 19 points on 7-of-14 from the floor as Loyola also took advantage at the line. The Ramblers hit 18-of-23, compared to 3-of-6 for NSU. Loyola had just three turnovers to 15 for NSU, which was also whistled for 19 fouls compared to eight for the Ramblers.
 
Player Tidbits
Jonathan Wade
• Averaging 21.2 points and 1.7 assists last 6 games on 50.6 percent shooting, including 12-of-27 (44.4 percent) from 3-point range
• Tied career high with 3 assists at Loyola
• Added 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including career-high 4-of-8 from 3-point range, in career-high 38 minutes against Sacred Heart
• Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in scoring (20.0), 7th in rebounding (5.8), defensive rebounds (4.3) and minutes (33.0), 9th in 3-point field goal percentage (46.9), 11th in free throw percentage (75.0) and 3-point field goals (1.9) and 13th in field goal percentage (48.6)
• Ranks 60th in the nation in points (20.0), No. 167 in double-doubles (1), No. 170 in minutes (33:00) and No. 218 in field goal percentage (48.6)
 
Zaynah Robinson
• Tied career high with 4 steals against Sacred Heart
• Ranks 6th in the MEAC in steals (1.5), 10th in minutes (32.2), 15th in assists (2.8), 28th in scoring (10.6)
• Ranks 235th in the nation in steals (1.50) and No. 239 in minutes (32:15)
 
Jordan Butler
• Posted career-high 21 points against Bucknell on 7-of-14 shooting
• Ranks 3rd all-time at NSU in blocks (116)
• Also stands 25th in NCAA Division I career records with a 1.61 blocks-per-game average, 30th with 116 total blocks and 242nd in rebounds (350)
 
Alex Long
• Ranks 9th in the MEAC in defensive rebounds (4.0) and 10th in blocks (1.1) and rebounding (5.4)
 
Dan Robinson
• Tied career high with 6 rebounds against Sacred Heart
• Ranks 4th in the MEAC and 154th in the nation in blocks (1.38)
 
Kyle Williams
• Averaging 13.5 points the last two games on 11-of-21 shooting with 5.5 rebounds
• Had career-best 7 rebounds at Loyola
 
Get to the Line
NSU had just six attempts at the free throw line at Loyola, the fewest since a game at Campbell on Dec. 18, 2007. The Spartans also had six that day after having just four the previous game at Air Force on Dec. 13, 2007.
 
Loyola's eight fouls were the fewest by a Spartan opponent since Ball State had just seven on Jan. 2, 2013.
 
Pack Your Bags
After five games on the road, NSU returns home to face Northern Kentucky on Saturday. The Spartans won't have a chance to get used to it, though, as NSU is currently in a stretch in which it plays 10 of 12 away from Norfolk before a very friendly home conference schedule in January.
 
Predictable Numbers
NSU shot better from the floor in the loss at Loyola (47.3-46.3 percent), breaking a long streak for the Spartans. Norfolk State had been outshot in each of its previous 22 losses before Loyola, dating back to the end of the 2014-15 season against Eastern Kentucky.
 
The opposite still holds true. The Spartans have had a better shooting percentage than the other team in their last 35 wins. The last time NSU won a game despite getting outshot percentage-wise from the field came in a victory over Saint Peter's on Nov. 29, 2014.
 
Getting Back on Track
After shooting under 40 percent in the previous four games, NSU connected on 25-of-54 (47.3 percent) at Loyola. Still, the Spartans are averaging just 57.2 points per game the last five contests. NSU did post a +7 edge on the glass at Loyola after going a combined -27 in the previous four contests.
 
Rejected
NSU owns a 16-4 edge in blocks over the previous three games after being outblocked 15-2 in the prior two contests against Vanderbilt and Butler.
 
Don't Foul
NSU has committed more fouls than the opposition in each of the last seven games but has posted season lows of 19 twice and 17 in the previous three contests.
 
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank first in the MEAC in blocks (4.9) as well as second in defensive rebound percentage (70.3) and third in field goal percentage defense (43.3), 3-point field goal percentage (37.9) and defensive rebounds (25.1).
 
Nationally Ranked
As a team, NSU stands 53rd in the nation in blocks (4.9) and 84th in 3-point field goal percentage (37.9).