Norfolk State Men's Basketball

Norfolk State at Morgan State	Wednesday, Feb. 24	7 p.m.	Talmadge Hill Field House
Radio: Star 1310 AM | Live Audio; Hot 91.1 FM | Live Audio	Live Video	Game Notes

BALTIMORE, Md. - Norfolk State plays its third game in five days on Wednesday when the Spartan men's basketball team travels to Baltimore to face Morgan State for a 7 p.m. matchup from the Talmadge Hill Field House.

With just three games left in the regular season, NSU is jockeying for final position heading into the MEAC tournament. The Spartans (10-3) can move into a tie for second with South Carolina State with a victory over the Bears. NSU comes into the game having won eight of its past 10.

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Star 1310 AM as well as Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon 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 video.

Series History
Norfolk State won the first matchup this season with Morgan State just 11 days ago, a 79-73 victory at home on Feb. 13. That improved NSU's all-time record to 35-13 against the Bears, dating back to the first meeting in 1959-60. The Spartans have also won nine of the last 11 games in the series.

About Morgan State
The Bears are coming off a 72-51 win over North Carolina A&T on Monday at home, a victory that improved MSU's record to 6-20 overall and 4-9 in conference play and broke a five-game losing streak. Cedric Blossom had 20 points, and he leads all players with 15.2 points to go along with 6.8 boards per game. Rasean Simpson (11.7 points, 6.5 rebounds) and Phillip Carr (10.5 points, 7.1 rebounds) also contribute for an offense though that averages less than 66 points per game. The Bears only connect on 38 percent of their shots from the floor, including just 29 percent from 3-point range. Opponents shoot 45 percent while averaging 71.5 points. MSU, on the other hand, averages just 11.7 turnovers per game, nearly three less than the other team.

Last Time Out
NSU fell behind by 14 in the first half on Monday against Coppin State, but a 28-6 run over the two halves put the Spartans ahead for good in an 85-77 win over the Eagles in an ESPNU televised game. Coppin State prevented NSU from pulling away by hitting 9-of-19 from 3-point range in the second half. The Spartans, though, scored 55 points in the second half, the most in a single half this year. They also had a +11 edge on the glass after intermission. NSU outscored CSU 46-16 in points in the paint. Jeff Short added 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals, while D'Shon Taylor tallied 15 points, all in the second half, with six rebounds, two blocks and two steals. The Spartans also committed just eight turnovers and held a 14-4 advantage in points off turnovers.

MEAC Standings
Hampton (11-2), South Carolina State (11-3) and NSU (10-3) are in a tight battle for the top 3 spots in the league, including the more advantageous first and second spots in the MEAC tournament. The only other team in the MEAC with less than six losses is Bethune-Cookman (8-5). The top four seeds in this year's tournament will get byes into the quarterfinal.

The Spartans have finished no worse than tied for third each of the last four years as well as fourth or better in the MEAC in eight of the last nine seasons.

Player Tidbits
Jeff Short
 • Averaging 16.8 points on 32-of-70 shooting and 2.5 assists last 6 games
 • Has 9 steals the last 3 games
 • Averaging 15.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.0 % from the floor and 80.7 % from the free throw line in league games
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in free throw % (81.3), 7th in scoring (16.1), 8th in 3-point field goal % (37.0) and 11th in 3-point field goals (2.1); Sits No. 139 in the nation in free throw % (81.3), 196 in points per game (16.1) and 235 in 3-point field goals per game (2.11)
 • Stands No. 119 in NCAA D-I in career scoring average (13.2) and 133 in points (1,264)
 • Ranks 2nd in NSU career records in free throw % (.817), 7th in 3-point field goals (126), 8th in 3-point field goal percentage (.383), 10th in 3-point field goal attempts (329), 16th in scoring average (17.7) and 34th in scoring (1,082)
 • Ranks 8th in a season in NSU's D-I history in free throw % (81.3) and 11th in scoring average (16.1) and 3-point field goals (57)
 • Has made a 3-pointer in 18 straight games

D'Shon Taylor
 • Has scored 12+ points in 12 of the last 13 games and is averaging 15.9 points on 38-of-81 shooting and 5.6 rebounds last 7 games
 • Has 13 steals the last 7 games
 • Averaging 13.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in league play while shooting 46.5 % overall and 38.0 % from the 3-point line
 • Ranks 10th in the MEAC in field goal % (45.5), 12th in 3-point field goal % (36.1) and 17th in scoring (12.8)
 • Stands No. 486 in NCAA D-I in career points (788)
 • Ranks 16th in NSU career records in 3-point field goals (85) and 3-point field goal attempts (238) and 17th in 3-point field goal % (.357)

Charles Oliver
 • 24-of-27 from the free throw line the last 6 games
 • Averaging 13.2 points in league play while shooting 43.2 % from the floor, 39.5 % from 3-point range and 83.6 % from the free throw line
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in free throw % (82.6), 13th in 3-point field goals (1.9), 14th in 3-point field goal % (35.8) and 18th in scoring (12.5); Sits No. 100 in the nation in free throw % (82.6)
 • Ranks 15th in NSU career records in 3-point field goal % (.358)
 • Stands 5th in NSU D-I season records for free throw % (82.6) and 12th in 3-point field goals (54)

Zaynah Robinson
 • Averaging 9.4 points on 15-of-36 shooting with 4.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds in the last 5 games
 • Averaging 7.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in league games while shooting 39.4 % overall, 41.2 % from 3-point range and 84.8 % from the free throw line
 • Has hit 31 of his last 35 free throw attempts
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (3.9), 4th in 3-point field goal % (41.1), 6th in steals (1.4) and 10th in assists (3.0); Stands No. 7 in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (3.86) and 234 in steals per game (1.36)

Jordan Butler
 • Averaging 12.2 points on 25-of-43 shooting with 9.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks the last 6 games
 • Shot 12-of-16 from the free throw line at Delaware State, the most attempts by an NSU player since Corey Lyons had 18 on March 12, 2009; Has gone 20-of-27 from the line the last 3 games
 • Has 15 blocks the last 3 games; Tied career high with 7 blocks against Morgan State, tying the NSU D-I record shared by Kyle O'Quinn; Fell 1 short of tying the overall school record of 8
 • Averaging 8.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.1 assists in league play while shooting 54.1 % from the floor and 75.0 % from the free throw line
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in blocks (2.3), 6th in offensive rebounds (2.5), 9th in rebounding (7.0) and 10th in defensive rebounds (4.6); Also stands No. 31 in the nation in blocks (2.25), 160 in offensive rebounds (2.46) and 209 in rebounds (7.0)
 • Stands No. 45 in NCAA D-I in career blocks per game average (1.62)
 • Ranks 6th in NSU career records in blocks (99)
 • Also stands 5th in NSU D-I season records for blocks (63)

Alex Long
 • Averaging 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 assists while shooting 59.2 % from the floor and 80.0 % from the free throw line in league play
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in blocks (1.0)

Preston Bungei
 • Averaging 5.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in league play while shooting 52.3 % from the floor and 78.8 % from the free throw line
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in blocks (1.0)

Jonathan Wade
 • Averaging 3.8 rebounds last 4 games
 • Averaging 7.2 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 43.5 % from the floor and 86.7 % from the free throw line in league play

Block Party
The last time these two teams met on Feb. 13, the Spartans set the school record with 17 blocks, surpassing the previous best of 13 set at Savannah State on Jan. 5, 2005. The team's 17 swats is tied with Houston Baptist for the most this season in a game in NCAA Division I. NSU has 31 blocks the last three games.

NSU ranks No. 30 in the nation with 5.1 blocks per game. The top four 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 144 for the season.

Good from the Line
NSU, which ranked No. 282 in the nation last year in free throw percentage, has improved its mark from 65.9 to 77.3 percent this season, which currently ranks the Spartans fifth in the nation. 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 341-of-425 (80.2 percent) from the free throw line after intermission but just 175-of-245 (71.4 percent) beforehand. They have also hit 149-of-182 (81.9 percent) in the last five minutes and overtime of their games this year.

The team's 523 free throws this year trails only the 2011-12 squad (544) for the most in a single season in D-I history.

Good From Long Range
With 207 3-pointers this year, Norfolk State has set the school record for most makes in a season, surpassing the previous best of 198 set in 2011-12. NSU is hitting 35.6 percent from beyond the arc, just behind the school's Division I record of 35.7 percent set in 1998-99.

Up That Scoring
NSU is averaging 73.9 points per game this year, the most since the Spartans tallied 76.0 per game in 1999-2000.

Limit Those Giveaways
The Spartans on the season are averaging 12.6 turnovers per contest, including 10 or less in three of the last four games. 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 13 of the last 14 games. On the flip side, NSU is averaging 19.9 points off turnovers the last nine games (179 points total).

Rackin' Up the Points
In five of NSU's wins this year in conference play, the Spartans have scored 99, 92, 88 (twice), 87 and 85 points. In fact, NSU has scored at least 70 points in 12 of 13 MEAC games this year and is averaging a league-best 81.2 points and shooting 45.9 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from 3-point range and 77.6 percent from the charity stripe in conference games. The Spartans also have a 80-38 edge in blocks against MEAC teams this year.

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans continue to lead the league in 3-point field goal percentage (35.6) and free throw percentage (77.3) while also ranking second in scoring offense (73.9), field goal percentage defense (42.5), blocks (5.1) and assist-turnover ratio (1.0) and third in scoring margin (-0.2) and 3-pointers per game (7.4).

In conference games only, Norfolk State leads the MEAC in scoring margin (+8.7), assists (14.0) and assist-turnover ratio (1.1).

Scoring Around the Basket
NSU is averaging 26.1 points in the paint this year but 35.3 in the last six games.

Better in the 2nd
NSU has scored more points in the second half than the first in 21 of 28 games this season. The Spartans are averaging 39.8 points after halftime but 33.2 before the intermission. The Spartans also have a -1.7 rebound margin in the first half and a +1.2 margin in the second half.

Good from 3
Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 209 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.

Ahead at the Half
The Spartans are 77-13 (85.6 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 10-2 this year when leading or tied at the half but just 4-12 when trailing.

Best in the Conference
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU is 62-15 in regular season conference play (30-8 at home, 32-7 on the road), just behind North Carolina Central (62-14) during that time for the best record in the league. Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 68-18, while the Eagles are 67-17 during that time. NSU also owns a 100-65 overall record since the start of the 2011-12 season, second in the conference to North Carolina Central (103-53).

What Deficit?
NSU erased a 14-point deficit in the win over Coppin State on Feb. 22, the ninth time in the past two seasons the Spartans overcame a double-digit deficit in a victory and the 12th time overall since 2010-11.