Norfolk State Men's Basketball - MEAC Home Opener
NORFOLK, Va. - After an unexpected weekend off due to the snowstorm that affected the Hampton Roads region, the Norfolk State men's basketball team gets back to action on Wednesday when the Spartans host Savannah State. Tip-off from Joseph Echols Hall is set for 8 p.m. in Norfolk State's first home conference game of the season.
The contest was originally schedule for last Saturday but was pushed back due to weather. NSU's home game on Monday against South Carolina State was also postponed with a make-up date of Feb. 15.
All of NSU's wins this year have come at home.
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 and Savannah State have met 11 times altogether, and NSU has won all eight meetings in their Division I history. The Tigers earned their three wins in the series in the late 1950's and early 60's. The Spartans won twice in 2004-05 in a home-and-home series, and NSU has also won all six meetings since 2011-12 when the Tigers joined the MEAC. The Spartans won last year's meeting in Norfolk by a 92-73 score.
About Savannah State
The Tigers own a 4-11 overall record this year and a 1-1 MEAC mark after their loss Monday at Hampton. Usually one of the slowest-paced teams in the conference, Savannah State has reversed course this season to average 86 points per game. The Tigers have already made 225 3-pointers this season, averaging 15 made treys per game while shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc. Four players score in double figures, led by Dexter McClanahan (15.3). Robert Kelly (12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds), Troyce Manassa (11.2 points) and Austin Dasent (10.1 points) also reach double figures, with three more players averaging at least 7.5 points per contest. Savannah State is prone to giving up a lot, as opponents score 101 points and average 12 more boards than the Tigers per game. SSU also turns the ball over on average two more times than the other team.
Last Time Out
Kyle Thomas' last minute bucket, combined with a 29-point, 12-rebound effort from Phillip Carr, allowed Morgan State to come away with a 58-56 win over Norfolk State last Wednesday in Baltimore in both teams' MEAC openers. The contest featured 13 lead changes and saw NSU go up by one with less than a minute left on a drive to the hoop by
Zaynah Robinson. Thomas, though, made a shot from beyond the right elbow on the other end, and NSU missed on both of its chances in the last possession. Robinson and
Jonathan Wade each had 13 points to lead the way for the Spartans. NSU made 40 percent overall while holding MSU to 33 percent shooting. The Spartans were hurt by 19 turnovers, a 3-of-17 night from the 3-point line and a 5-of-12 second-half effort from the free throw line.
Player Tidbits
Jonathan Wade
 • Has scored in double figures in all 15 games
 • Ranks 9th all-time at NSU in free throw percentage (.778)
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in scoring (19.3), 5th in minutes (34.4), 8th in defensive rebounds (4.4), 9th in rebounding (5.7) and field goal percentage (46.9), 11th in free throw percentage (73.7) and 15th in 3-point field goal percentage (38.3)
 • Ranks 53rd in the nation in points (19.3), No. 73 in minutes (34:24) and No. 200 in field goal percentage (46.9)
 • Stands No. 878 in NCAA Division I career records in points (483)
Zaynah Robinson
 • 13-of-23 from 3-point range and 18-of-39 overall last 4 games played while averaging 15.0 points per game
 • Ranks 20th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goals (67) and 3-point field goal attempts (185)
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (3.1), 8th in minutes (31.8) and steals (1.1), 9th in assists (3.1), 11th in 3-point field goal percentage (39.7), 12th in 3-point field goals per game (1.9) and 21st in scoring (11.0)
 • Ranks 26th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (3.07)
 • Stands No. 958 in NCAA Division I career records in points (451)
Jordan Butler
 • Averaging 8.8 points and 5.8 rebounds last 5 games played
 • Ranks 3rd all-time at NSU in blocks (122)
 • Stands 37th in NCAA Division I career records with a 1.58 blocks-per-game average and with 122 total blocks, No. 269 in rebounds (379) and No. 1,039 in points (422)
Alex Long
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.5) and 15th in rebounding (5.3) and defensive rebounds (3.7)
 • Ranks 96th in the nation in blocks (1.50)
 • Had career-best 3 steals at Morgan State
Dan Robinson
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC (1.4) and No. 113 in the nation in blocks (1.43)
Kyle Williams
 • Averaging 2.0 assists last 4 games
Alex Brown
 • Grabbed career-high 4 rebounds at Morgan State
Finally Home
After playing 10 of the past 12 games away from home, NSU will finally begin its friendly home January schedule, albeit after a slight delay. Starting with Savannah State, NSU will have five of its last seven January games at home (was six of eight before the rescheduling of the contest against S.C. State).
Rejected
NSU owns a 49-29 edge in blocks over the previous 10 games. On the year, NSU ranks 58th in the nation in blocks per game at 4.8 and 66th with 72 total blocks.
Mix and Match
NSU has used 11 different lineups in its 15 games this year, although the Spartans have used the same starting five the last two games for the first time since the start of the season.
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 15 games. The Spartans, meanwhile, are scoring on average 5.1 more points in the second stanza than the first period.
The Spartans are shooting 43.5 percent overall in the second half, compared to 38.3 in the first. They are also connecting on 41.1 from long range in the second but just 27.3 percent in the first. Opponents are also shooting better in the second half than the first (47.6-41.9), including from 3-point range (41.8-34.5).
Over the last eight games, the Spartans have scored 74 more points in the second half than the first.
Don't Turn it Over
On the year, Norfolk State is getting outscored 15.4-11.5 in points off turnovers. The Spartans have been in single digits in points off turnovers in five of the past six games. NSU has had more turnovers than the other team in five of those last six contests.
In first halves this year, the Spartans have 28 more turnovers than the opposition, but in second halves that number drops down to just one.
Share the Ball
NSU has had fewer assists than the opposition in each of the last 12 games and in 13 of the 15 contests this season.
Attack the Glass
NSU is averaging 9.1 second-chance points per game this season but has been below that average in four of the last five games.
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank first in the MEAC in blocks (4.8) as well as second in defensive rebound percentage (70.6) and third in scoring margin (-8.8) and opponent rebounding (36.7).
Scorers Needed
So far this year, the opposition's bench is outscoring NSU's, 24.3-17.9. The Spartans have averaged just 11.5 bench points the last two games.
Getting to the Line
Beginning with the Niagara contest, the Spartans have made 84-of-115 (73.0 percent) from the free throw line in its last six games.
Good from 3
Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 230 straight games, dating back to a contest at South Carolina State on Jan. 25, 2010, when NSU finished 0-of-17 from 3-point range.
