MEAC Tournament Quarterfinal Round

NSU vs. North Carolina Central	Wednesday, March 9	8:30 p.m.	Norfolk Scope Arena
Radio: Star 1310 AM | Live Audio; Hot 91.1 FM | Live Audio	TV: ESPN3	Live Stats	Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - With the regular season in the rearview mirror, the Norfolk State men's basketball team now turns its attention to the MEAC tournament at Scope Arena. The Spartans will open play on Wednesday night in the quarterfinal round at approximately 8:30 p.m. against No. 7 seed North Carolina Central.

The Spartans earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament for the second straight year after tying South Carolina State for the second-best record in the conference at 12-4. NSU earned the tiebreaker after defeating the Bulldogs in their only meeting this year.

Media Coverage
The 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.

The game will be shown live on ESPN3, available through the WatchESPN app. Fans can also follow along with the live stats.

Series History
Norfolk State won the first meeting this season at North Carolina Central, 88-79, to break a four-game losing streak in the series. The Spartans still lead all-time, 28-11, going back to the very first meeting in 1963-64. Wednesday will mark the second meeting in the MEAC tournament after the Eagles won 68-45 in the semifinals two seasons ago.

About North Carolina Central
The Eagles topped Howard 68-66 on Tuesday in the first round to advance to the quarterfinal and improve to 13-18 overall. Kyle Benton led the way with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Dante Holmes averages a team-best 15.4 points per game, with Patrick Cole (14.8) and Jeremiah Ingram (10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds) also scoring in double figures for a team that averages and allows just about 70 points per game. NCCU also gets production from Dajuan Graf (7.8 points, 4.0 assists), Benton (7.4 points, 6.3 rebounds) and Rashaun Madison (7.4 points). The Eagles hit 43.4 from the floor and 35.3 from 3-point range, third and second, respectively, in the conference. NCCU also ranks second in the league in rebound margin (+2.1) while averaging just 1.7 blocks per game. The Eagles tied for sixth in the league this year at 7-9.

Last Time Out
NSU closed out the regular season at home last Thursday against Hampton in the Battle of the Bay. After falling to the Pirates earlier in the year, NSU got a measure of revenge, topping Hampton by an 83-63 score at Joseph Echols Hall. The Spartans shot better than 60 percent in the second half, as all 11 players scored for NSU. Hampton was held to 31 percent shooting in the Spartans' biggest win over its main rival in seven seasons. The sixth straight sellout in the Battle of the Bay at home, it also marked the first time in nine seasons the two teams split their regular season meetings. NSU, which never trailed, was led by Jeff Short with 18 points on 5-of-7 3-point shooting, five assists and three steals. D'Shon Taylor tallied 15 points and eight rebounds, while Zaynah Robinson also reached double figures with 10 points. NSU shot 26-of-51 for the game and overcame a 43-31 Hampton advantage on the glass.

MEAC Standings
The Spartans have finished no worse than tied for third each of the last five years, the only program in the league to do so, after tying for second this year at 12-4. NSU has also finished fourth or better in the MEAC in nine of the last 10 seasons.

Hampton (13-3) won the outright conference regular season title, with NSU and South Carolina State (both 12-4) and Bethune-Cookman (10-6) earning the second through fourth positions. Savannah State (9-7) was the only other program in the 13-team MEAC to finish .500 or better in conference play.

MEAC Tournament History
The Spartans are attempting to advance to the semifinals for the fifth time in the past six years and the seventh time in the last nine seasons. This year also marks the eighth time in those last nine years that the Spartans entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed or better.

All-Conference
For the eighth time in the past nine seasons, NSU had a first-team all-conference player. This year, for the second year in a row, it was guard Jeff Short. The Spartans have had at least one all-conference player each of the last 13 years. NSU also had an all-rookie team member (Alex Long) for the fourth time in the past six years.

Player Tidbits
Jeff Short
 • Named 1st Team All-MEAC for 2nd year in a row
 • Has 14 steals the last 6 games and 21 assists the last 4 games, including career-high tying 7 against Howard
 • Tied career high (from Fordham) with 5 3-pointers vs. Hampton
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in scoring (15.8), 8th in free throw % (80.4), 11th in 3-point field goal % (36.2), 12th in 3-point field goals (2.1) and 13th in assists (2.6); Sits No. 162 in the nation in free throw % (80.4), 211 in points per game (15.8) and 240 in 3-point field goals per game (2.10)
 • Stands No. 139 in NCAA D-I in points (1,304) and 140 in career scoring average (13.2)
 • Ranks 2nd in NSU career records in free throw % (.813), 7th in 3-point field goals (132), 8th in 3-point field goal attempts (349), 9th in 3-point field goal percentage (.378), 16th in scoring average (17.5) and 34th in scoring (1,122)
 • Ranks 6th in a season in NSU's D-I history in 3-point field goals (63), 7th in 3-point field goal attempts (174), 8th in free throw % (80.4), 10th in free throws (119), 13th in scoring average (15.8) and 15th in points (474) and free throw attempts (148)

D'Shon Taylor
 • Has scored 12+ points in 15 of the last 16 games
 • Averaging 16.6 points on 48.7 % shooting and 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals last 10 games, including 18.3 points and 8.7 rebounds last 3 games
 • Has at least 1 steal in 12 straight games
 • 15-of-17 from the free throw line last 4 games and 5-of-8 from the 3-point line last 2 contests
 • Ranks 10th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (37.3), 12th in steals (1.2), 13th in field goal % (46.4) and free throw % (76.3) and 14th in scoring (13.4)
 • Stands No. 139 in NCAA D-I in career scoring average (13.2) and 468 in career points (843)
 • Ranks 11th in NSU career records in 3-point field goal % (.363), 15th in 3-point field goals (91) and 16th in 3-point field goal attempts (251)
 • Also ranks 15th in a season in NSU's D-I history in 3-point field goal % (37.3)

Charles Oliver
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in free throw % (82.5), 15th in 3-point field goals (1.8) and 21st in scoring (12.4); Sits No. 110 in the nation in free throw % (82.5)
 • Stands 5th in NSU D-I season records for free throw % (82.5), 9th in 3-point field goal attempts (164), 12th in 3-point field goals (56) and 14th in free throws (113)

Zaynah Robinson
 • Has hit 31 of his last 35 free throw attempts; Also owns a 19-3 assist-turnover ratio the last 6 games
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (4.0), 5th in 3-point field goal % (40.5), 10th in assists (3.0) and 11th in steals (1.3); Stands 4th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (4.04)
 • Stands 6th in NSU D-I season records in 3-point field goal % (40.5), 13th in assists (93) and 14th in assist average (3.00)

Jordan Butler
 • Averaging 12.1 points on 63.3 % shooting with 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks the last 9 games
 • Has 21 blocks the last 6 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
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in blocks (2.2), 8th in offensive rebounds (2.4) and rebounding (6.9) and 9th in defensive rebounds (4.5); Also stands No. 33 in the nation in blocks (2.23), 165 in offensive rebounds (2.42) and 212 in rebounds (6.9)
 • Stands No. 48 in NCAA D-I in career blocks per game average (1.64)
 • Ranks 4th in NSU career records in blocks (105)
 • Also stands 4th in NSU D-I season records for blocks (69), 10th in rebounds (215), 12th in field goal % (52.9) and 14th in rebound average (6.9)

Alex Long
 • Named to the MEAC All-Rookie Team
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in blocks (1.0) and No. 242 in the nation (1.03)
 • Stands 14th in NSU D-I season records in blocks (32)

Preston Bungei
 • Has made 23 of his last 26 free throws
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in blocks (1.0)
 • Stands 15th in NSU D-I season records in blocks (30)

Jonathan Wade
 • Averaging 3.9 rebounds last 7 games, including career-high 7 at Morgan State
 • Has made 13 straight free throws

Block Party
NSU ranks No. 27 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 five seaons and currently have 159 for this year. They also only trail the 2010-11 team (5.7) for the most blocks per game in school history. NSU has also posted 46 blocks the last six games (7.7 per game).

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 fourth 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 376-of-470 (80.0 percent) from the free throw line after intermission but just 198-of-275 (72.0 percent) beforehand. They have also hit 159-of-197 (80.7 percent) in the last five minutes and overtime of their games this year.

NSU has already broken the record for free throws made in a season in its Division I history (581), surpassing the previous best of 544 set in 2011-12. The overall school record stands at 669 set in 1965-66.

Good From Long Range
With 228 3-pointers this year, Norfolk State has also set the school record for most makes in a season, surpassing the previous best of 198 set in 2011-12. NSU is hitting 35.5 percent from beyond the arc, just behind the school's Division I record of 35.7 percent set in 1998-99. NSU broke out of a slump from long range by hitting 12-of-24 against Hampton.

Up That Scoring
NSU is averaging 74.5 points per game this year, the most since the Spartans tallied 76.0 per game in 1999-2000.

Falling Behind?
NSU has not trailed in each of the last two games in wins over Howard (84-66) and Hampton (83-63). The Spartans also outscored those two teams 26-0 in fastbreak points.

Limit Those Giveaways
The 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 16 of the last 17 games. The Spartans are tallying 5.9 steals per game this year but have posted six or more in six of the last seven contests, including a season-high 11 against Hampton. They have also had the same amount or more steals than the opposition in each of the last 12 games and 15 out of the last 16.

On the flip side, NSU is averaging 19.1 points off turnovers the last 12 games. The Spartans had 32 at Howard, the most since having 34 against Pfeiffer in November of 2014.

Rackin' Up the Points
In eight of NSU's wins this year in conference play, the Spartans scored 99, 92, 88 (twice), 87, 85, 84 and 83 points. In fact, NSU scored at least 70 points in 15 of 16 MEAC games this year and averaged a league-best 80.9 points and shot 45.5 percent from the field, 34.4 percent from 3-point range and 77.6 percent from the charity stripe in conference games. The Spartans also had a 95-51 edge in blocks against MEAC teams this year.

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans lead the league in scoring offense (74.5), 3-point field goal percentage (35.5), free throw percentage (77.3) and scoring margin (+0.5) while ranking second in field goal percentage defense (42.2), blocks (5.1) and assist-turnover ratio (1.0) and third in 3-pointers per game (7.4).

In conference games only, Norfolk State led the MEAC in scoring offense (80.9), free throw percentage (77.6), scoring margin (+8.4), assists (13.8) and assist-turnover ratio (1.1).

A Second Chance
NSU has averaged 16.0 second-chance points the last four games, including a season-high 22 against Howard.

Scoring Around the Basket
NSU is averaging 26.4 points in the paint this year but 33.3 in the last nine games.

Better in the 2nd
NSU has scored more points in the second half than the first in 23 of 31 games this season. The Spartans are averaging 40.0 points after halftime but 33.6 before the intermission. The Spartans also have a -1.6 rebound margin in the first half and a +1.2 margin in the second half.

Best in the Conference
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU is 64-16 in regular season conference play (32-8 at home, 32-8 on the road), just ahead of North Carolina Central (63-17) during that time for the best record in the league. Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 70-19, while the Eagles are 69-20 during that time. NSU also owns a 102-66 overall record since the start of the 2011-12 season, second in the conference to North Carolina Central (105-56).