Norfolk State Men's Basketball
NORFOLK, Va. - Looking to keep up the defense of its home court this season, the Norfolk State men's basketball team welcomes North Carolina Central to Joseph Echols Hall for a Saturday matchup. The conference tilt will begin at 6:30 p.m.
All of NSU's wins this year have come at home, where the Spartans stand 4-1 overall.
Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Star 1310 AM as well as Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon and Julee O'Neal 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 History
Norfolk State won both meetings last year, including in the quarterfinals of the MEAC tournament, after the Eagles had won four in a row prior to that. The two programs have a strong history from their mutual time in the CIAA, and NSU owns a 29-11 overall record against the Eagles. The Spartans won the first 16 contests between the two programs beginning with the first meeting ever in 1963-64.
About North Carolina Central
The Eagles earned early season favorite status in the MEAC this year after posting the only winning record in the early going. They stand 10-6 overall this year - four more overall wins than any other MEAC team - and 1-1 in MEAC play after dropping a home game to Delaware State by one but defeating Maryland Eastern Shore the very next day. The games were postponed to Tuesday and Wednesday of this week due to inclement weather last weekend.
Last Time Out
Norfolk State overcame a seven-point deficit with four minutes to go, and six players scored in double figures as NSU downed Savannah State 80-76 on Wednesday at home in a contest that was postponed from last weekend.
Zaynah Robinson scored 21 on 7-of-15 shooting, while five other Spartans had either 10 or 11 points on the night. The Tigers missed their last eight shots of the game and had two additional turnovers during that time, allowing the Spartans to jump ahead late. Savannah State had chances late but had a shot blocked and then turned the ball over on last minute possessions that could have tied the game. SSU made just 8-of-44 from 3-point range after coming into the game averaging 15 made 3's and 37 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Troyce Manassa led the Tigers with 29 points. NSU made 10-of-31 from 3-point range, just one attempt off the school record of 32 set twice.
Player Tidbits
Jonathan Wade
 • Has scored in double figures in all 16 games
 • Posted career high 4 assists against Savannah State
 • Ranks 12th all-time at NSU in free throw percentage (.774)
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in scoring (18.8), 5th in minutes (34.2), 6th in defensive rebounds (4.4), 10th in field goal percentage (45.9), 11th in rebounding (5.6) and 13th in free throw percentage (73.2)
 • Ranks 64th in the nation in points (18.8), No. 89 in minutes (34:11) and No. 227 in field goal percentage (45.9)
 • Stands No. 868 in NCAA Division I career records in points (494)
Zaynah Robinson
 • 17-of-31 from 3-point range and 25-of-54 overall last 5 games played while averaging 16.2 points and 3.8 assists per game
 • Posted 4th 20-point game of season with 21 vs. Savannah State
 • Ranks 19th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goals (71) and 3-point field goal attempts (193)
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (3.3), 5th in steals (1.2), 6th in assists (3.3 and 3-point field goal percentage (40.8), 8th in minutes (32.2), 11th in 3-point field goals per game (2.1) and 20th in scoring (11.0)
 • Ranks 20th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (3.27)
 • Stands No. 930 in NCAA Division I career records in points (472)
Jordan Butler
 • Averaging 9.0 points and 7.0 rebounds last 6 games played
 • Had 4th career double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds vs. Savannah State
 • Ranks 3rd all-time at NSU in blocks (125)
 • Stands 36th in NCAA Division I career records with a 1.60 blocks-per-game average and with 125 total blocks, No. 257 in rebounds (392) and No. 1,023 in points (432)
Alex Long
 • Posted 2nd double-double of season with 10 points and 15 rebounds vs. Savannah State; Tied career high for rebounds
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.7), 7th in rebounding (5.9) and 10th in defensive rebounds (4.3)
 • Ranks 70th in the nation in blocks (1.67) and No. 236 in double-doubles (2)
Dan Robinson
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC (1.4) and No. 116 in the nation in blocks (1.40)
Stavian Allen
 • Had 3rd double-digit scoring game of season with 10 vs. Savannah State
Alex Brown
 • Tied career high with 7 points vs. Savannah State; Has scored 13 points with 7 rebounds the last 2 games
Kerwin Okoro
 • Posted career-high 11 points vs. Savannah State in first start at NSU
Finally Home
After playing 10 of 12 games away from home from mid-November to early January, NSU finally began its friendly home January schedule against Savannah State. Five of NSU's last seven games in January take place at home.
Rejected
NSU owns a 59-35 edge in blocks over the previous 11 games. On the year, NSU ranks 40th in the nation in blocks per game at 5.1 and 44th with 82 total blocks.
The top five seasons in NSU history in terms of total blocks have all come within the last six years, as the program has averaged 163.3 blocks per season during that time.
Mix and Match
NSU has used 12 different lineups in its 16 games this year. Just twice this year have the Spartans used the same starting five in two straight games.
Fast Breaking
NSU has averaged 9.3 fastbreak points the last three games, posting three of its five best performances of the season in those games.
Clean the Glass
NSU is a combined +11 on the boards the last two games. The Spartans had 53 against Savannah State, the most in a game since having 55 in a double overtime game at Coppin State on Jan. 31, 2011.
On the year, NSU is getting outrebounded by just -0.2 in the first half but -2.1 in the second.
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 11 of NSU's 16 games. The Spartans, meanwhile, are scoring on average 4.2 more points in the second stanza than the first period.
The Spartans are shooting 43.1 percent overall in the second half, compared to 38.8 in the first. They are also connecting on 39.4 from long range in the second but just 28.6 percent in the first. Opponents are also shooting better in the second half than the first (45.5-41.6), including from 3-point range (37.8-33.2).
Don't Turn it Over
On the year, Norfolk State is getting outscored 15.5-11.5 in points off turnovers. The Spartans have been in single digits in points off turnovers in five of the past seven games. NSU has had more turnovers than the other team in six of those last seven contests.
In first halves this year, the Spartans have 33 more turnovers than the opposition, but in second halves that number drops down to just two.
Share the Ball
NSU has had fewer assists than the opposition in each of the last 13 games and in 14 of the 16 contests this season.
Attack the Glass
NSU is averaging 9.2 second-chance points per game this season but has been below that average in four of the last six games.
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank first in the MEAC in blocks (5.1) as well as second in defensive rebound percentage (70.3) and third in scoring margin (-8.0), field goal percentage defense (43.3), opponent rebounding (37.4) and defensive rebounds (25.6).
Don't Foul
NSU has had at least one player foul out in each of the last 12 games and in 14 overall. On the season, the Spartans have had 20 disqualifications in their 16 contests.
Ahead at the Half
The Spartans are 84-17 (83.2 winning percentage) since the start of the 2011-12 season when leading or tied at the half, including just 4-4 this season.
Best in the Conference
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU is 65-17 in regular season conference play (33-8 at home, 32-9 on the road), just ahead of North Carolina Central (64-18) during that time for the best record in the league. Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 72-20, while the Eagles are 70-22 during that time. NSU also owns a 107-80 overall record since the start of the 2011-12 season, second in the conference to North Carolina Central (115-63).
