Norfolk State Men's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Back from the Christmas break, the Norfolk State men's basketball team looks to pick up one last non-conference win this season when the Spartans travel to Bowling Green for a 2 p.m. matchup on Friday.
It will mark the last game of the 2016 calendar year for the Spartans and the last contest before NSU begins MEAC play for the rest of the year on Wednesday.
Media Coverage
The
live stream of the game between NSU and Bowling Green will be available through BGSU's website. In addition, the Falcons will have
live stats available.
Series History
This will mark the first ever meeting between NSU and Bowling Green.
About Bowling Green
The Falcons come into the matchup sporting a 5-7 record on the season. Included in there is a 32-point win over Morgan State, a fellow MEAC school NSU will face in its next game. Like the Spartans, BGSU also played Evansville, suffering a 69-66 loss in early December. The Falcons are coming off a 13-point win over Alabama A&M. On the season, Wes Alcegaire leads the way with 13.1 points, with Zack Denny second on the team in scoring (12.4) and rebounds (5.7). Demajeo Wiggins grabs a team-high 7.2 boards with 8.9 points, while Antwon Lillard (8.4 points, 5.2 rebounds) and Dylan Frye (7.8) add to an offense that scores nearly 73 points per game, shoots almost 37 percent from 3-point range and averages 7.5 3-pointers per game. The Falcons do a good job on defense, forcing nearly 15 turnovers with seven steals per game while posting a +1.8 turnover margin on the year.
Last Time Out
No. 15 Purdue scored 53 points in the first half and never looked back in a 91-45 win over Norfolk State in Indiana on Dec. 21 in NSU's last game before the Christmas break. Caleb Swanigan posted 32 points and 20 rebounds to lead the way for the Boilermakers, who had only one other player in double figures in Isaac Haas (14). Purdue shot nearly 56 percent from the field while holding the Spartans to 32 percent overall. Purdue also had a +22 edge on the glass as all three of NSU's frontcourt players fouled out.
Jonathan Wade had team high totals of 13 points and five rebounds for NSU, which suffered its worst loss (46 points) since a 47-point setback at UNLV on Dec, 18, 2006 and its fourth-worst loss in program history. NSU's -22 rebounding margin in the contest marked its worst since getting outrebounded by 25 rebounds against Cleveland State on Dec. 13, 2003.
Player Tidbits
Jonathan Wade
 • Has scored in double figures in all 13 games
 • MEAC Defensive Player of the Week on Dec. 26
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in scoring (19.5), 5th in minutes (34.3), 7th in defensive rebounds (4.3), 10th in field goal percentage (47.3) and rebounding (5.8), 14th in free throw percentage (73.4) and 15th in 3-point field goal percentage (38.9)
 • Ranks 61st in the nation in points (19.5), No. 74 in minutes (34:18) and No. 193 in field goal percentage (47.3)
 • Stands No. 895 in NCAA Division I career records in points (447)
 • Had 6th 20-point game of the season with 25 against Eastern Kentucky; Shot 11-of-16 from the free throw line, tied with
Jordan Butler from last year for the most attempts by a Spartan player in the last 8 years
Zaynah Robinson
 • 13-2 assist-turnover ratio last 4 games played
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in steals (1.2) and 9th in assists (2.9)
 • Stands No. 983 in NCAA Division I career records in points (416)
Jordan Butler
 • Averaging 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds last 3 games played; Shooting 13-of-14 from the free throw line last 2 games played
 • Ranks 3rd all-time at NSU in blocks (120)
 • Stands 32nd in NCAA Division I career records with a 1.60 blocks-per-game average, No. 35 with 120 total blocks, No. 266 in rebounds (366) and No. 1,001 in points (409)
Alex Long
 • Has 14 blocks last 5 games played
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.7), 9th in rebounding (5.8), 11th in offensive rebounds (1.8), and 13th in defensive rebounds (4.0)
 • Ranks 79th in the nation in blocks (1.67)
 • Stands No. 1,494 in NCAA Division I career records in points (257)
Dan Robinson
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC and No. 124 in the nation in blocks (1.38)
 • Had career highs of 9 points and 4 blocks against Eastern Kentucky
Kyle Williams
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (40.0)
 • Had career-highs of 23 points, 3 assists and 5-of-7 3-point shooting against Eastern Kentucky
Carrington Ward
 • Averaging 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists last 2 games
Kerwin Okoro
 • Season-high 8 points at Purdue
Rejected
NSU owns a 42-25 edge in blocks over the previous eight games. But the Spartans failed to register a block at Purdue, the first time doing so since a loss against Ohio in November of 2015. On the year, NSU ranks 49th in the nation in blocks per game at 5.0 and 43rd with 65 total blocks.
Getting to the Line
The Spartans made 35 free throws against Eastern Kentucky, the second-most in NSU's Division I history behind the school record of 41 set against Florida A&M on Dec, 5, 2013. Their 45 attempts against the Colonels on Dec. 19 are tied for the fourth most in the Spartans' D-I history.
But in NSU's very next game, the Spartans had just five attempts at the charity stripe against Purdue. It marked the fewest in a game for NSU since having four at Air Force on Dec. 13, 2007.
Mixing and Matching
NSU has used 10 different lineups in its 13 games this year, including nine different sets of starting five in the last 10 contests.
Getting Back on Track
The Spartans averaged just 59.2 points per game while shooting 37.7 percent overall and 31.7 percent from 3-point range during its eight-game losing streak. Then against Eastern Kentucky, NSU scored 87, including 72 in regulation, while shooting 41.5 percent overall and 47 percent from 3-point range. It marked the second time this season NSU topped the 80-point plateau.
NSU, however, is coming off a 45-point performance at Purdue, the program's fewest points in a game since scoring just 39 at Virginia on Nov. 16, 2014. NSU is also averaging just 18.7 points in the paint the last three games, well below its season average of 26.0.
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 nine of NSU's 13 games.
NSU, on the other hand, is scoring on average 4.8 more points in the second stanza than the first period. The Spartans are shooting 43.5 percent overall in the second half, compared to 37.6 in the first. They are also connecting on 41.5 from long range in the second but just 27.6 percent in the first.
Over the last six games, the Spartans have scored 59 more points in the second half than the first.
Don't Turn it Over
NSU has only forced 9.8 turnovers per game from the opposition the last six contests with 25 total steals during that time. Of course, during that five-game streak, NSU has also posted its three lowest totals of the year with nine, 10 and 11 turnovers.
On the year, Norfolk State is getting outscored 15.9-12.0 in points off turnovers, although NSU held a 21-8 advantage against Eastern Kentucky.
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank first in the MEAC in blocks (5.0) as well as second in scoring margin (-9.3) and defensive rebound percentage (69.6) and third in 3-point field goal percentage (34.6), free throw percentage (68.8) and opponent rebounding (36.8).
Winning the State
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU has the third-most wins (106) among the 14 Division I schools in the state of Virginia. The Spartans trail Virginia (145) and VCU (143).
