Norfolk State Men's Basketball
DOVER, Del. - After a tough loss at home on Saturday, the Norfolk State men's basketball team will take a one-game trip to face Delaware State on Monday at DSU's Memorial Hall. Tip-off of this MEAC matchup will be at 7:30 p.m.
NSU is looking for its first win away from its home court this season.
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 stats and
live video.
Series History
Delaware State won last year's meeting in Dover, pushing the all-time series record to 31-24 now, still in favor of the Spartans. NSU had won the previous four meetings before that, including the last two in Dover. DSU has still won eight of the last 10 on its home court.
About Delaware State
The Hornets fell in overtime at home on Saturday against Hampton to fall to 2-1 in conference play and 5-13 overall. DSU did defeat North Carolina Central on the road before that to go along with a non-conference win against St. John's earlier this year. The Hornets average 67 points a game while giving up 77, shooting solid from 3-point range (37 percent). Devin Morgan averages a team-best 14.5 points per game, with DeAndre Haywood (10.8) and Kavon Waller (10.5) providing two more options on offense. DeVaughn Mallory tallies 9.8 points with a team-best 6.6 rebounds. On defense, the Hornets have allowed teams to shoot 47 percent overall and 37 percent from 3-point range, making nearly nine treys per game. The opposition also holds a +8.4 edge on the glass over DSU. The Hornets only average 2.6 blocks per game but do turn the ball over less than the opposition.
Last Time Out
North Carolina Central never trailed in the game, and the Eagles shot 11-of-25 from 3-point range to defeat NSU 72-57 on Saturday night at Joseph Echols Hall. Both teams shot nearly identical from the floor overall (26-of-54 for NCCU and 25-of-55 for the Spartans). NSU, though, made just 3-of-16 from beyond the arc, while the Eagles struggled from the free throw line (9-of-21). Patrick Cole (19 points), Rashuan Madison (18, on 6-of-12 3-pointers) and Dajuan Graf (14) all reached double figures.
Kerwin Okoro (21) and
Jonathan Wade (20) led the way for NSU, with no other player tallying more than six. NSU also got just two points from its bench. The Eagles outscored the Spartans 21-6 in points off turnovers and 18-10 in fastbreak points.
Player Tidbits
Jonathan Wade
 • Has scored in double figures in all 17 games
 • Had 8th 20-point game of season with 20 vs. NCCU
 • Ranks 14th all-time at NSU in free throw percentage (.767)
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in scoring (18.8), 6th in minutes (34.2), 9th in field goal percentage (47.4), 10th in defensive rebounds (4.3), 11th in free throw percentage (72.3) and 16th in rebounding (5.5)
 • Ranks 61st in the nation in points (18.8), No. 98 in minutes (34:10) and No. 178 in field goal percentage (47.4)
 • Stands No. 834 in NCAA Division I career records in points (514)
Zaynah Robinson
 • Averaging 4.3 rebounds last 3 games and 4.3 assists last 4 games
 • Played all 40 minutes vs. NCCU; 1st NSU player to do so since Kyle O'Quinn on March 11, 2011
 • Ranks 19th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goals (71) and 3-point field goal attempts (200)
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (3.1), 5th in steals (1.3), 7th in assists (3.3), 8th in minutes (32.7), 12th in 3-point field goals per game (1.9) and 24th in scoring (11.2)
 • Ranks 22nd in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (3.06) and No. 210 in minutes (32:41)
 • Stands No. 939 in NCAA Division I career records in points (476)
Jordan Butler
 • Averaging 7.0 rebounds last 7 games played; 8 blocks last 3 games
 • Ranks 3rd all-time at NSU in blocks (128)
 • Stands 32nd in NCAA Division I career records with 128 total blocks, 34th with a 1.62 blocks-per-game average, No. 254 in rebounds (399) and No. 1,035 in points (436)
Alex Long
 • Averaging 8.3 points last 3 games
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.6) and 11th in rebounding (5.8) and defensive rebounds (4.2)
 • Ranks 84th in the nation in blocks (1.56) and No. 245 in double-doubles (2)
Dan Robinson
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC (1.4) and No. 120 in the nation in blocks (1.38)
Kerwin Okoro
 • Averaging 16.0 points last 2 games
 • Posted career-high 21 points on 9-of-16 field goals vs. NCCU and tied career high with 4 rebounds
Bryan Gellineau
 • Has sat out the last 10 games due to injury but dressed for the 1st time vs. NCCU
Rejected
NSU owns a 65-39 edge in blocks over the previous 12 games. On the year, NSU ranks 38th in the nation in blocks per game at 5.1 and 44th with 87 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 starting lineups in its 17 games this year, although the Spartans have used the same starting five in each of the last two games now.
Fast Breaking
NSU has averaged 9.5 fastbreak points the last four games, posting four of its six best performances of the season in those games.
Clean the Glass
NSU is a combined +9 on the boards the last three games. The Spartans had 53 rebounds 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.
Don't Turn it Over
On the year, Norfolk State is getting outscored 15.8-11.2 in points off turnovers. The Spartans have been in single digits in points off turnovers in six of the past eight games. NSU has had more turnovers than the other team in seven of those last eight 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 five.
Attack the Glass
NSU is averaging 9.2 second-chance points per game this season but has been below that average in five of the last seven games.
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank first in the MEAC in blocks (5.1) as well as second in defensive rebound percentage (70.6) and third in scoring margin (-8.4), field goal percentage defense (43.6), opponent rebounding (37.1) and defensive rebounds (25.5).
Don't Foul
NSU has had at least one player foul out in 12 of the past 13 games and in 14 overall. On the season, the Spartans have had 20 disqualifications in their 17 contests.
For the year, NSU has had more fouls than the opposition, and thus less free throw attempts, in 13 games.
O'Quinn's NBA Season
Former Spartan Kyle O'Quinn is now in his fifth year in the NBA and the second with the New York Knicks. He became NSU's first NBA player in 25 years after getting drafted in the second round in 2012 by the Orlando Magic. So far this year, O'Quinn is averaging 6.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 assists per game.
Professional Spartans
Aside from O'Quinn, NSU has several other former players competing professionally. Michael Deloach is currently with Eurobasket Roma in the Italian Serie A2 league, where he is averaging 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
Jeff Short is competing with Arcos Albacete Basket in Spain, where he has posted 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
In addition, former Spartan
D'Shon Taylor is playing for Al Mina of the Iraq Superleague, Aleek Pauline is with Sampaense Basketball of the Portuguese Basketball League, and Anell Alexis is competing with Caballos de Cocle Aguadulce of the Panamanian Basketball League.
Another former NSU player, Pendarvis Williams, competed in Italy the last two years but is currently with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.
