NSU Men's Basketball - Greek and Campus Organizations Night
NORFOLK, Va. - Looking to maintain its top four standing in the MEAC, the Norfolk State men's basketball team faces last-place North Carolina A&T on Monday night. The Spartans will welcome the Aggies to Joseph Echols Hall for an 8 p.m. matchup.
The Spartans, winners of their last four games and five of the last six, stand 5-2 in conference play as well as 8-13 overall. The Aggies have lost 19 straight and own a 1-19 overall record this year as well as a 0-7 MEAC mark.
NSU currently trails Morgan State (6-1), North Carolina Central (5-1) and Savannah State (6-2) in the league standings.
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 has won the last five meetings against North Carolina A&T, running their series lead to 24-20 over the Aggies. Last year, NSU came away with a 75-68 win on the road, overcoming a 10-point halftime deficit and Sam Hunt's 34-point night. The teams first met in 1962-63 but only once in a 22-year span until the Spartans officially joined the MEAC in 1998-99.
About North Carolina A&T
The Aggies have struggled this year, to say the least, after defeating Greensboro College in their season opener. Offense has been an issue for A&T, which averages a nation-worst 59.7 points per game. The Aggies hold teams to 72 points per contest, but they also give the ball away 15 times per game and have one of the worst turnover margins nationally at -4.6. Sam Hunt leads the team in scoring at 12.9 points, and Davaris McGowens adds 10.1 points and a team-best 7.9 rebounds. Eliel Gonzalez (9.8 points) nearly gives the Aggies three players in double figures. But besides Donte Watson (8.5), who missed nine games earlier this year, no other player averages six points a contest. The Aggies are one of two teams in the nation with fewer than three losses this season.
Last Time Out
Down by two at the half, NSU got 21 points from
Jonathan Wade after the break and 31 in total from the senior to defeat Bethune-Cookman by a 73-66 score on Saturday night at Joseph Echols Hall. The Spartans shot 68 percent after halftime, outscoring the Wildcats 46-37. NSU needed a 9-0 surge late in the game to break a tie and then hold on for the win. Besides Wade,
Alex Long also scored in double figures with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Jordan Butler added eight points and nine boards, helping the Spartans finish with a 45-28 edge on the glass. They also outscored B-CU 14-2 in second-chance points.
Player Tidbits
Jonathan Wade
 • Had 12th 20-point game of season and 2nd 30-point game with 31 against Bethune-Cookman; Tied career high with 3 steals as well
 • Averaging 23.4 points on 43-of-62 shooting, including 10-of-20 on 3-pointers, and 2.4 assists last 5 games
 • Has scored in double figures in all 21 games
 • Ranks 2nd in the nation in largest increase in points per game from last year (+14.0) behind Northeastern's T.J. Williams (+15.1)
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in scoring (19.9), 4th in field goal percentage (51.1), 6th in minutes (34.0) and 3-point field goal percentage (40.2), 12th in defensive rebounds (4.2), 13th in rebounding (5.6) and 14th in free throw percentage (71.9)
 • Ranks 42nd in the nation in points (19.9), No. 104 in field goal percentage (51.1) and No. 119 in minutes (33:57)
 • Stands No. 706 in NCAA Division I career records in points (611)
 • Ranks 5th in NSU Division I records in scoring average (19.9) and 6th in 3-point field goal percentage (40.2)
 • Ranks 9th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal percentage (37.8) and 17th in free throw percentage (75.8)
Zaynah Robinson
 • Averaging 13.9 points, 5.5 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals last 8 games, and 38.3 minutes last 6 games
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (2.9), 5th in steals (1.3), 6th in assists (4.0), 7th in minutes (33.8) and free throw percentage (79.6), 14th in 3-point field goals per game (1.9) and 21st in scoring (11.5)
 • Ranks 24th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (2.93), No. 137 in minutes (33:45) and No. 172 in assists (4.0)
 • Stands No. 211 in NCAA Division I career records with 216 assists and No. 892 in points (527)
 • Ranks 5th in NSU Division I records in assist average (3.95)
 • Ranks 17th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal attempts (223), 18th in assists (216) and 19th in 3-point field goals (77)
Kyle Williams
 • Averaging 7.3 points last 4 games
 • Tied career high with three assists vs Bethune-Cookman
Jordan Butler
 • Averaging 8.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks last 7 games and 9.3 points last 4 games
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.6), 6th in rebounding (6.6) and 9th in offensive rebounds (2.1) and defensive rebounds (4.4)
 • Ranks 71st in the nation in blocks (1.63)
 • Stands 28th in NCAA Division I career records with 136 total blocks, 33rd with a 1.64 blocks-per-game average, No. 229 in rebounds (433) and No. 1,013 in points (473)
 • Ranks 3rd all-time at NSU in blocks (136)
Alex Long
 • Averaging 12.0 points on 9-of-14 shooting last 2 games and 7.3 rebounds last 6 games
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in blocks (1.6), 7th in field goal percentage (49.2), 9th in rebounding (5.9), 11th in defensive rebounds (4.3) and 13th in offensive rebounds (1.7)
 • Ranks 85th in the nation in blocks (1.55)
 • Stands No. 1,463 in NCAA Division I career records in points (327)
 • Ranks 18th all-time at NSU in blocks (66)
Dan Robinson
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC (1.3) and No. 160 in the nation in blocks (1.25)
 • Averaging 3.7 points on 5-of-7 shooting last 3 games
Kerwin Okoro
 • Has 7 assists last 4 games
Keep Shooting
NSU has made 127-of-271 (46.9 percent) from the floor over the last five games. Included in that stretch was a 10-of-16 3-point performance (62.5 percent) against Hampton, the fourth-best percentage in the program's Division I history. It also marked the fifth time this year NSU reached double digits in 3-pointers in a game.
In the last two games, NSU has shot 34-of-50 (68.0 percent) after halftime, including 9-of-16 from 3-point range. The Spartans scored 52 points at Coppin State, marking the first time this year the Spartans scored at least 50 in one period.
Rejected
NSU has had more blocks than the other team in seven of the last eight games and 13 of the last 16. On the year, NSU ranks 29th in the nation in blocks per game at 5.2 and 32nd with 110 total blocks. The Spartans had 10 blocks against Hampton, the third time this season with 10 swats in a contest. Only twice in its Division I history has NSU had more than 10 blocks in a game.
Mix and Match
NSU has used 12 different starting lineups this year, including nine during a 10-game span at one point. Lately, though, the Spartans have used the same starting five in each of the last six games, with NSU going 5-1 during that time.
Fast Breaking
NSU is averaging 9.3 fastbreak points in the last eight games, including 16 against Bethune-Cookman for the third most this year. On the season, though, NSU is getting outscored 7.9-6.7 in fastbreak points.
Clean the Glass
NSU is a combined +44 on the boards during the last seven games, all in MEAC play. NSU has yet to win a game when losing the rebounding battle this year (0-10) and is also 8-3 when ahead in the rebound column.
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 15 of NSU's 21 games. The Spartans, meanwhile, are scoring on average 6.1 more points in the second stanza than the first period.
The Spartans are shooting 45.4 percent overall in the second half, compared to 39.3 in the first. They are also connecting on 41.8 from long range in the second but just 26.9 percent in the first. Opponents are also shooting slightly better in the second half than the first (44.4-41.8), including from 3-point range (37.5-34.3).
Don't Turn it Over
On the year, Norfolk State is getting outscored 16.4-11.7 in points off turnovers, although the Spartans are averaging 16.5 points the past two games.
NSU has had more turnovers than the other team in 10 of the last 12 games. That also includes a season-low seven turnovers at Coppin State. On the year, the Spartans have a -1.8 turnover margin in the first half, a number that falls to -0.4 in second periods.
Attack the Glass
NSU is averaging just 9.1 second-chance points per game this season but had 14 against Bethune-Cookman for the most in nearly two months.
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank first in the MEAC in blocks (5.2) and defensive rebound percentage (71.9) as well as second in scoring margin (-5.0) and field goal percentage defense (43.0) and third in opponent rebounding (35.9), rebound margin (-0.1) and defensive rebounds (26.2).
Series Edge
NSU has a winning record against every school in the MEAC, with several of those series covering a lot of ground in the Division II era. The Spartans' closest rival over the years has been S.C. State, in which NSU now leads 19-18. The next closest rivalry is currently North Carolina A&T (24-20).
