Norfolk State Men's BasketballPRINCESS ANNE, Md. - After a dramatic two overtime win at Howard on Saturday, the Norfolk State men's basketball team will look to make it a road-trip sweep on Monday when the Spartans play at UMES. Tip-off from the W.P. Hytche Athletic Center in Princess Anne, Md., will be at 7:30 p.m. or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game.
The Spartans sit 7-2 and in third place in the MEAC but just a half game behind league leaders South Carolina State and Hampton (both 8-2). NSU will have only two more road games this season after the contest at UMES.
Media CoverageThe 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.
UMES will host
live stats and will have a
live video feed through YouTube.
Series HistoryUMES won the previous meeting last year in Norfolk, 82-64 on Feb. 9, 2015. That broke a seven-game win streak by NSU, which still leads the all-time series 42-17. The two teams first played in 1953-54, the earliest meeting between the Spartans and any of the current members of the MEAC. Despite the loss last year, NSU has still won 23 of the last 26 meetings dating back to 2001-02.
About UMESThe Hawks have won four in a row after Saturday's 73-70 win over Hampton at home. UMES is now 8-16 overall and 5-4 in conference play. Dominique Elliott had 23 points against Hampton and is second on the team with 13.8 points while adding a team-best 7.3 rebounds. Devin Martin leads the way with 17.0 points, while Bakari Copeland also reaches double figures with 10.2. No other player averages even six points per game for a team that tallies 67 per contest but also gives up 76 points. Thanks in part to Elliott hitting better than 53 percent, the Hawks shoot 43.5 percent from the floor. But despite Martin hitting at a 37.1 percent clip from beyond the arc, UMES only shoots 32.8 percent as a team. The Hawks also turn the ball over nearly 16 times per game and allow teams to hit better than 46 percent from the floor.
Last Time OutJeff Short completed a 4-point play with 5.6 seconds left in the first overtime, and Howard failed to convert a field goal during the second extra session in a 99-92 Spartan win on Saturday at Burr Gymnasium. NSU's first two-overtime game in four seasons saw Howard erase a seven-point deficit with two minutes left in regulation. James Daniel had 34 points for Howard and scored 18 straight Bison points during the end of the second half and the first part of overtime. Short finished with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while
D'Shon Taylor led the Spartans with 22 points on 7-of-13 from the floor.
Zaynah Robinson connected on 7-of-11 for a career-high 19 points as NSU finished 35-of-71 from the field. NSU scored its most points since tallying 99 against Coppin State last year.
MEAC StandingsAfter its loss on Saturday, Hampton fell to 8-2 and into a tie for first along with South Carolina State. The Spartans (7-2) not only stayed with those two schools with the win on Saturday at Howard, but no other team in the league even has three losses now. Bethune-Cookman, UMES and Howard each have four setbacks in MEAC play.
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.
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.
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 78.4 percent this season, which currently ranks the Spartans No. 1 in the nation ahead of St. Bonaventure (78.3). NSU is attempting to hit better than 70 percent this year for the first time since the 2003-04 season. The school record stands at 72.3 set in 1968-69.
On the year, the Spartans have shot 283-of-353 (80.2 percent) from the free throw line after intermission but just 145-of-195 (74.4 percent) beforehand. They have also hit 123-of-149 (82.6 percent) in the last five minutes and overtime of their games this year.
Good From Long RangeSo far this year, Norfolk State is hitting 37.6 percent from beyond the arc with 187 total treys, just 11 away from tying the school record of 198 set in 2011-12. NSU's current clip from long range ranks No. 50 in the nation. NSU is chasing the school's Division I record of 35.7 percent set in 1998-99. NSU ranks No. 100 in the nation in 3-pointers per game (7.8).
Conference StreakNSU needs one more win for 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 20.1 points on 14-of-27 shooting the last 2 games
 • Averaging 16.1 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 48.2 % from the floor and 85.7 % from the free throw line in league 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)
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (38.3) and free throw % (83.0), 7th in scoring (16.3) and 9th in 3-point field goals (2.1); Sits No. 99 in the nation in free throw % (83.0), 178 in points per game (16.3), 232 in 3-point field goals per game (2.13) and 245 in field goal % (43.1)
 • Stands No. 95 in NCAA D-I in career scoring average (13.1) and 134 in points (1,204)
 • Ranks 2nd in NSU career records in free throw % (.824), 8th in 3-point field goal percentage (.389), 9th in 3-point field goals (118), 11th in 3-point field goal attempts (303) and 35th in scoring (1,022)
 • His 83.0 % average from the free throw line is currently ranks third in a season in NSU's D-I history; Also ranks 11th in scoring average (16.3)
 • Averaging 2.6 assists last 13 games (34 total)
 • Has made a 3-pointer in 14 straight games
D'Shon Taylor • Has scored in double figures in 8 of the last 9 games and is averaging 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds last 2 games while shooting 13-of-29 overall
 • Averaging 13.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in league play while shooting 47.1 % overall and 41.2 % from the 3-point line
 • 8th career 20-point game, and 4th this season, with 22 at Howard
 • Ranks 9th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (37.0), 10th in field goal % (45.5), 13th in free throw % (76.7) and 20th in scoring (12.5)
 • Ranks 16th in NSU career records in 3-point field goals (80) and 3-point field goal attempts (222) and 14th in 3-point field goal % (.360)
Charles Oliver • Averaging 15.6 points in league play while shooting 46.5 % from the floor, 44.8 % from 3-point range and 85.0 % from the free throw line
 • 12-of-12 from the free throw line the last 2 games
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC in free throw % (83.0), 7th in 3-point field goal % (37.6), 11th in 3-point field goals (2.1) and 15th in scoring (13.3); Sits No. 100 in the nation in free throw % (83.0)
 • Stands 4th in NSU D-I season records for free throw % (83.0) and 13th in 3-point field goals (50)
Zaynah Robinson • Had career highs of 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 4-of-6 from 3-point range at Howard; 4th double-digit scoring game of the season
 • 58-12 assist-turnover ratio last 21 games
 • Has a 3.38 assist-turnover ratio for the season; Would rank 16th in the nation but is short of the 3.0 assists-per-game qualifying mark
 • Has tallied 17 steals in his last 9 games
 • Averaging 7.8 points in league games while shooting 43.5 % overall, 45.8 % from 3-point range and 86.4 % from the free throw line
 • Has made a 3-pointer in 11 of the last 14 games; Has hit 22 of his last 24 free throw attempts
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (42.9), 5th in steals (1.5) and 11th in assists (2.9); Stands No. 183 in the nation in steals per game (1.46)
Jordan Butler • Averaging 9.5 points on 9-of-17 shooting and 9.5 rebounds the last 2 games
 • Averaging 5.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in league play while shooting 48.6 % from the floor
 • Tallied 2nd double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds at Hampton and 5th game with 10+ rebounds
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in blocks (1.9), 9th in defensive rebounds (4.7) and rebounding (6.8) and 13th in offensive rebounds (2.1); Also stands No. 56 in the nation in blocks (1.88) and 232 in rebounds (6.8)
 • Ranks 11th in NSU career records in blocks (81)
 • Also stands 8th in NSU D-I season records for blocks (45)
Preston Bungei • Averaging 6.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in league play while shooting 51.5 % from the floor
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in blocks (1.0)
 • Has made 14 of his last 16 free throw attempts
Jonathan Wade • Averaging 7.9 points and shooting 48.9 % from the floor in league play
Alex Long • Averaging 9.8 points on 30-of-51 shooting and 5.5 rebounds last 8 games
 • Averaging 8.9 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 59.6 % from the floor in league play
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in blocks (0.9)
 • Has hit 20 of his last 21 free throw attempts
Share the BallIn the last six games, NSU has had 28 double-digit scoring efforts, including five in contests at North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central and six against South Carolina State. NSU is averaging 36.2 points off the bench during the last six games.
Hello ThereNSU has used 10 different starting lineups this year. The most that one starting lineup has been together this year is five games, accomplished with two different lineups. Saturday marked the first time the starting five of Butler, Long, Taylor, Short and Robinson started a game this year.
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 seven MEAC games this year and is averaging 83.6 points and shooting 47.0 percent from the field in conference games.
Scoring Around the BasketNSU has 40 and 38 points in the paint in the last two games, the two highest totals this year.
MEAC RankingsThe Spartans continue to lead the league in 3-point field goal percentage (37.6), with the second highest team at 34.7. NSU also ranks first in free throw percentage (78.4), second in scoring offense (73.6), scoring margin (-1.0), 3-pointers per game (7.8), opponent rebounding (35.2), blocks (4.5) and assist-turnover ratio (1.0) and third in field goal percentage (42.6), field goal percentage defense (42.7) and assists (12.2).
Limit Those GiveawaysThe Spartans on the season are averaging 12.8 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 nine of the last 10 games. On the flip side, NSU is averaging 23.5 points off turnovers the last four games. The Spartans had 32 against Howard, the most since having 34 against Pfeiffer in November of 2014.
Block PartyNSU ranks No. 59 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 109 for this season.
Best in the ConferenceSince the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU is 59-14 in regular season conference play (28-8 at home, 31-6 on the road), second in the MEAC over that period of time behind North Carolina Central (59-14). Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 65-17, while the Eagles are 64-17 during that time. NSU also owns a 97-64 overall record since the start of the 2011-12 season, second in the conference to North Carolina Central (100-53).
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 3-12 when trailing.
