Norfolk State Men's BasketballNORFOLK, Va. - It will be Alumni Day, Kyle O'Quinn bobblehead giveaway and Spartan Fan Fest this Saturday before the Norfolk State men's basketball team takes on Morgan State in a MEAC matchup at Joseph Echols Hall. The Spartans will tip-off against the Bears at 6 p.m. or approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game.
The Basketball Fan Fest will take place inside Echols Hall and will begin at 3 p.m. when doors open to the arena. The first 750 fans in NSU apparel who arrive at that time will receive a free Kyle O'Quinn bobblehead. Saturday will also be Alumni Day across the university, with several activities taking place throughout campus in addition to the basketball doubleheader. O'Quinn is also scheduled to be in attendance.
The Spartan men's team, meanwhile, will look to maintain pace with South Carolina State and Hampton at the top of the MEAC standings. NSU owns an 8-2 league record, and a 12-13 overall mark, while the Bulldogs and Pirates stand 9-2. Hampton is off on Saturday, while S.C. State hosts Savannah State.
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 HistoryMorgan State won the previous meeting by a 73-70 score last season in Baltimore, although NSU still has won eight of the last 10 meetings. The Spartans lead 34-13 in the all-time series that first began in 1959-60. MSU was one of four teams that defeated NSU in the regular season last year. The Spartans have already defeated the other three his year in so-called revenge games - North Carolina Central, UMES and Howard.
About Morgan StateThe Bears lost both games last weekend in their trip to Savannah State and South Carolina State, falling to 5-17 overall and 3-6 in conference play. Led by Cedric Blossom's 14.5 points and 6.7 rebounds, Morgan State has three players score in double figures for a team that only averages close to 65 points per game. Rasean Simpson (10.9 points, 6.1 rebounds) and Phillip Carr (10.4 points, 7.4 rebounds) do plenty of work on the glass as well as in the scoring column, with Andre Horne (9.4 points) and Kyle Thomas (8.5) also chipping in. MSU, though, shoots just 38.0 percent overall as a team and 29.9 percent from 3-point range. Opponents score close to 71 points on the Bears while shooting 45.4 percent overall. Morgan State has been outrebounded by nearly four boards per game, although the Bears have turned the ball over just 12.2 times while forcing teams into 15.0 turnovers per contest.
Last Time OutNSU used a 13-1 run near the end of the game and outscored UMES 19-7 to close out the game in a comeback win over the Hawks, 76-70, on Monday night at UMES. NSU scored the last 14 points on free throws, finishing 25-of-36 overall and 21-of-23 in the second half.
Jeff Short shot 6-of-14 for 17 points, hitting four 3-pointers.
D'Shon Taylor and
Jordan Butler each had 16 points and eight rebounds, with Butler shooting 7-of-9 from the floor. Devin Martin had five 3-pointers and 20 points to lead UMES, which shot 13-of-29 from long range. The Spartans sank 22-of-54 overall (40.7 percent), slightly better than UMES (20-of-50, 40.0 percent).
MEAC StandingsNSU (8-2) and Hampton and South Carolina State (9-2) have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Only Bethune-Cookman (6-4) has less than five losses in MEAC play now. Norfolk State fell to Hampton but defeated South Carolina State, which handed Hampton its only loss this year to make each team 1-1 against the other two.
Good from the LineNSU, which ranked No. 282 in the nation last year in free throw percentage, has improved its mark from 65.9 to 77.8 percent this season, which currently ranks the Spartans second in the nation behind St. Bonaventure (78.2). NSU is attempting to hit better than 70 percent this year for the first time since the 2003-04 season and break the school record of 72.3 set in 1968-69.
On the year, the Spartans have shot 304-of-376 (80.9 percent) from the free throw line after intermission but just 149-of-208 (71.6 percent) beforehand. They have also hit 137-of-165 (83.0 percent) in the last five minutes and overtime of their games this year.
Good From Long RangeNorfolk State is hitting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc with 194 total treys, just four away from tying the school record of 198 set in 2011-12. NSU's current clip from long range ranks No. 55 in the nation. NSU is chasing the school's Division I record of 35.7 percent set in 1998-99. NSU ranks No. 104 in the nation in 3-pointers per game (7.8).
Conference StreakWith eight wins now, NSU has secured its 18th straight season with a .500 or better record in the MEAC. In fact, in Norfolk State's 60 seasons in a conference, the program has had just one losing conference record (9-10 in the CIAA in 1990-91).
NSU is tied with Wisconsin for eighth in the nation for the longest streak of .500-or-better conference records in a row in Division I (See table page 5). NSU has posted 23 straight .500 or better conference records, dating back to that 1990-91 campaign.
Player TidbitsJeff Short • Averaging 19.3 points on 20-of-41 shooting the last 3 games
 • Averaging 16.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 47.4 % from the floor in league games
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (38.4), 6th in free throw % (81.0), 7th in scoring (16.3) and 8th in 3-point field goals (2.2); Sits No. 147 in the nation in free throw % (81.0), 181 in points per game (16.3), 202 in 3-point field goals per game (2.21) and 249 in field goal % (43.1)
 • Stands No. 99 in NCAA D-I in career scoring average (13.1) and 135 in points (1,221)
 • Ranks 2nd in NSU career records in free throw % (.816), 8th in 3-point field goal percentage (.390) and 3-point field goals (122), 11th in 3-point field goal attempts (313) and 34th in scoring (1,039)
 • Ranks 3rd in a season in NSU's D-I history in free throw % (81.0), 11th in scoring average (16.3) and 13th in 3-point field goals (53)
 • Has made a 3-pointer in 15 straight games
 • Reached 1,000 points in NSU career in loss at Hampton; became 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)
D'Shon Taylor • Has scored in double figures in 9 of the last 10 games and is averaging 18.3 points and 7.0 rebounds last 3 games
 • Has 9 steals the last 4 games
 • Averaging 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds in league play while shooting 45.8 % overall and 41.7 % from the 3-point line
 • Ranks 9th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (37.3), 11th in field goal % (45.0), 15th in steals (1.1) and 19th in scoring (12.7)
 • Stands No. 500 in NCAA D-I in career points (746)
 • Ranks 12th in NSU career records in 3-point field goal % (.362) and 16th in 3-point field goals (81) and 3-point field goal attempts (224)
Charles Oliver • Averaging 14.4 points in league play while shooting 44.0 % from the floor, 42.6 % from 3-point range and 86.4 % from the free throw line
 • 16-of-16 from the free throw line the last 3 games
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in free throw % (83.6), 10th in 3-point field goal % (36.8), 11th in 3-point field goals (2.0) and 18th in scoring (12.9); Sits No. 77 in the nation in free throw % (83.6)
 • Stands 1st in NSU D-I season records for free throw % (83.6) and 14th in 3-point field goals (50)
Zaynah Robinson • Averaging 15.5 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 6-of-10 from 3-point range in the last 2 games
 • Has 4 double digit scoring efforts in the last 6 games
 • Has a 3.20 assist-turnover ratio for the season; Would rank No. 20 in the nation but is short of the 3.0 assists-per-game qualifying mark
 • Has tallied 18 steals in his last 10 games
 • Averaging 8.2 points and 3.2 assists in league games while shooting 41.5 % overall, 46.4 % from 3-point range and 89.3 % from the free throw line
 • Has made a 3-pointer in 12 of the last 15 games; Has hit 28 of his last 30 free throw attempts
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (43.3), 5th in steals (1.4) and 11th in assists (3.0); Stands No. 193 in the nation in steals per game (1.44)
Jordan Butler • Averaging 11.6 points on 16-of-26 shooting and 9.0 rebounds the last 3 games
 • Averaging 6.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in league play while shooting 54.5 % from the floor and 76.0 % from the free throw line
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in blocks (1.9), 8th in rebounding (6.8) and 9th in defensive rebounds (4.6) and offensive rebounds (2.2); Also stands No. 49 in the nation in blocks (1.92), 222 in rebounds (6.8) and 248 in offensive rebounds (2.20)
 • Ranks 10th in NSU career records in blocks (84)
 • Also stands 7th in NSU D-I season records for blocks (48)
Alex Long • Averaging 9.2 points on 32-of-54 shooting and 5.1 rebounds last 9 games
 • Averaging 8.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting 60.0 % from the floor and 95 % from the free throw line in league play
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in blocks (0.9)
 • Has hit 21 of his last 22 free throw attempts
Preston Bungei • Averaging 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in league play while shooting 50.0 % from the floor and 77.4 % from the free throw line
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in blocks (0.9)
 • Has made 14 of his last 16 free throw attempts
Jonathan Wade • Averaging 7.7 points and shooting 48.0 % from the floor and 84.6 % from the free throw line in league play
Rackin' Up the PointsIn five of NSU's wins this year in conference play, the Spartans have scored 99, 92, 88 (twice) and 87 points. In fact, NSU has scored at least 70 points in all 10 MEAC games this year and is averaging 82.8 points and shooting 46.4 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from 3-point range and 79.0 percent from the charity stripe in conference games.
Scoring Around the BasketNSU is averaging 25.0 points in the paint this year but 35.3 in the last three games.
Better in the 2ndNSU has scored more points in the second half than the first in 20 of 25 games this season. The Spartans are averaging 39.9 points after halftime but 32.8 before the intermission. The Spartans also have a -2.0 rebound margin in the first half and a +1.3 margin in the second half.
MEAC RankingsThe Spartans continue to lead the league in 3-point field goal percentage (37.5), with the second highest team at 35.1. NSU also ranks first in free throw percentage (77.8), second in scoring margin (-0.7), 3-pointers per game (7.8), opponent rebounding (35.3), blocks (4.5) and assist-turnover ratio (1.0) and third in scoring offense (73.7), field goal percentage (42.5) and field goal percentage defense (42.6).
Limit Those GiveawaysThe Spartans on the season are averaging 12.7 turnovers per contest. The school record for fewest giveaways per game is 13.1 set in 1987-88. NSU has also had as many or fewer turnovers than the opposition in 10 of the last 11 games. On the flip side, NSU is averaging 21.0 points off turnovers the last six games.
Block PartyNSU ranks No. 61 in the nation with 4.5 blocks per game. The top 4 seasons in NSU history in terms of total blocks have all come within the last five years. The Spartans have averaged 161.0 blocks per season over those last five years and currently have 113 for this season.
Ahead at the HalfThe Spartans are 75-12 (86.2 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 8-1 this year when leading or tied at the half but just 4-12 when trailing.
O'Quinn's NBA SeasonFormer Spartan Kyle O'Quinn begins his fourth year in the NBA this season and his first with the New York Knicks after signing a four-year, $16 million contract. NSU's first NBA player in 25 years after getting drafted in the second round in 2012, O'Quinn is currently averaging 4.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game for New York after three years with the Orlando Magic.
Spartans in the ProsAside from Kyle O'Quinn, NSU had seven other former players sign with overseas teams. Guards Michael Deloach and Pendarvis Williams are competing in Italy for the second straight year, while guards Chris McEachin (Czech Republic), Aleek Pauline (France) and Anell Alexis (Germany) are also playing in Europe. Guard
Jamel Fuentes is competing in Puerto Rico, while center Brandon Goode is currently in Estonia.
Deloach is currently averaging 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, with McEachin at 10.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
