NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State men's basketball team plays its home opener on Monday when the Spartans host Lynchburg College for a 7 p.m. contest at Joseph Echols Hall.

NSU is attempting to win its ninth straight home opener. The last home opener loss came during the 2008-09 season against Jacksonville State.

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Famous 1310 AM with Ross Gordon on the call. Live audio is available through www.wgh1310.com and on Smartphones through the Famous 1310 website.

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
This will mark the first-ever meeting between Norfolk State and Lynchburg College.

Scouting Lynchburg College
The Hornets finished 16-10 last year and 10-6 in the ODAC in Hilliary Scott's ninth year leading the program, falling to Virginia Wesleyan in the tournament quarterfinals, 102-93. Lynchburg averaged 84.5 points and made slightly more than 10 3-pointers per game. Unfortunately for the Hornets, they lost two of their top three leading scorers in Zack Burnett (21.5 points) and Jay Allen (10.9). Burnett was the ODAC Player of the Year and a second-team NABC All-American. Connor Schroeder (15.1 points, team-leading 7.1 rebounds) takes over the leading scorer role with Logan Seacrist (8.3 points) the only other returning player who averaged at least seven points per game. Lynchburg made 46 percent overall and 37 percent from 3-point range last year, with Burnett and Schroeder combining for 153 treys. The contest against Norfolk State will not count against Lynchburg's record. The Hornets will officially start their season next Saturday.

Last Time Out
Bryce Brown scored 31 points on 12-of-16 shooting, and Auburn shot 56 percent as a team in a 102-74 win over Norfolk State on Friday night at Auburn Arena in both teams' season opener. The Tigers held a 42-29 edge on the glass and outscored NSU 46-16 in points in the paint and 16-4 in second-chance points. NSU was held to 34 percent shooting, although freshman Mastadi Pitt scored 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Senior Stavian Allen and sophomore Steven Whitley each had 14 points, with Allen scoring a career high to go along with five rebounds and a career-best four steals. Whitley also had a career-high six assists and tied his career best with six boards. Senior Preston Bungei joined them in double figures with 10 to go along with four assists, three rebounds and three blocks.

First-Game Tidbits
 •  The Spartans shot 12-of-34 from 3-point range, the most attempts from beyond the arc in school history. They broke the previous school record of 32 set in January of 2012 and tied in January of 2016. The 12 makes are two off the school record of 14.

 •  The Spartans gave up 100 points for the first time since Jan. 3, 2014 in a 104-84 loss to Mount St. Mary's.

 •  NSU had 11 steals at Auburn, the most since posting 11 at home against Hampton on March 3, 2016.

 •  The Spartans dropped their third straight season opener, with all three coming against SEC foes (South Carolina, 2015; Mississippi State, 2016)

Player Tidbits
Kyle Williams
 • Ranks 20th in NSU career records in 3-point % (35.2)

Preston Bungei
 • Made career-high 8-of-11 from the free throw line in career-best 35 minutes at Auburn and tied career high with 4 assists

Stavian Allen
 • Set career highs with 14 points and 4 steals at Auburn and tied career best with 31 minutes played

Steven Whitley
 • Set career high with 6 assists and tied career bests with 6 rebounds and 31 minutes played at Auburn

Predictable Numbers
Over the past two years, NSU is 32-3 when shooting better than the opposition and 2-32 when the other team has a better shooting percentage.

Good from 3
Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 250 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.