NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State men's basketball team will look to get back on track with the start of a stretch in which the Spartans play four of their next five games at home. Up first, NSU will host Kent State on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall, part of a non-conference doubleheader with the Spartan women's team.

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. The feed is available on smartphones through the Famous 1310 website.

Fans can also follow along with the live stats at www.sidearmstats.com/nsu/mbball/ and the live video feed at www.nsuspartans.com/watch. The live video feed also carries the radio broadcast.

Series History
This will mark the second game ever between NSU and Kent State. The Golden Flashes won a post-New Year's contest on Jan. 4, 2010 by an 84-66 score on their home court.

Scouting Kent State
The Golden Flashes have lost their last three to fall to 3-3 on the season, including a 75-60 loss in the Savannah Invitational last Saturday to Loyola Chicago, a team NSU will also play later this year. Kent State scores 79 points per game, led by Jaylin Walker (17.7) and Adonis De La Rosa (13.0 points, team-high 7.8 rebounds), the only two players to average even eight points a game for KSU. Five different players average between 6.0 and 7.5 points per game. De La Rosa has helped control the glass, as Kent State owns a +3.2 rebounding margin on the year. That is also on top of its edge in the turnover department (+3.8) as well as in blocks (27-13). Along with Walker and De La Rosa, BJ Duling (7.0 points, 3.5 rebounds) and Jalen Avery (6.2 points, 4.8 assists) have also started every game. Danny Pippen (7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds) and Akiean Frederick (7.3 points) have been contributors off the bench.

Last Time Out
A stretch of nearly 12 minutes without a field goal in the second half doomed NSU in a 70-55 loss at Little Rock on Sunday in the final game of the Grand Canyon Classic. The Spartans shot less than 25 percent in the second half and less than 30 percent overall for the game. NSU was able to close the gap at the end, scoring 25 points in the last eight minutes of the contest. Steven Whitley scored 16 points, all but two in the last eight minutes of the game, and was the only player for either team to score in double figures. Six players for Little Rock scored either eight or nine points for the contest. The Trojans led by as much as 20 in the first half and 26 in the second. The Spartans had a five-minute stretch in the first half and a six-minute stretch in the second in which they did not score. Nic Thomas added nine points, and Kyle Williams totaled eight for NSU.

Spartan Team Tidbits
 • NSU has never started a season 0-6. Before this year, the worst start was 0-5 in 1999-2000 and again in 2001-02.

 • Teams have outscored NSU in points in the paint (29.5-21.0), second-chance points (10.5-7.8) and points off turnovers (23.7-13.7). The Spartans have scored 18 points each of the last two games in points off turnovers, however.

 • Norfolk State has scored more points in the second half than the first in five of six games, with a 36.5-27.5 points per half discrepancy from the second to the first. NSU has gotten to the free throw line more in second halves (68-of-94) than first halves (30-of-46), and the Spartans have a +0.8 rebounding margin after the break compared to a -2.3 margin before.

 • The biggest difference for opponents is first-half 3-point shooting (43.0) compared to second-half 3-point shooting (36.2).

 • The Spartans have used five different starting lineups in six games this season.

 • NSU ranks third in the MEAC in opponent rebounding (35.7), defensive rebound percentage (71.6) and blocks (3.5) and fifth in free throw percentage (70.0) and 3-point field goal percentage (31.9).

 • On a national level, NSU stands No. 156 in offensive rebounds (11.00) and No. 162 in blocks (3.5).

Player Tidbits
Alex Long
 • Tied career high with both 6 field goals and 34 minutes played against Robert Morris
 • Also tied for team lead with 12 points; 1st game in career leading the team in scoring
 • Stands 11th in the MEAC in field goal % (48.6)
 • Ranks 14th all-time at NSU in blocks (77)
 • Ranks No. 299 in NCAA career records in rebounds (320) and No. 719 in points (459)

Kyle Williams
 • Ranks No. 1,367 in NCAA career records in points (226)

Preston Bungei
 • Hit 2nd 3-pointer of his career at Little Rock
 • Tied career high with 4 assists against Robert Morris
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in blocks (1.5) and 20th in rebounding (5.0)
 • Also stands No. 127 in the nation in blocks (1.50)
 • Ranks No. 1,333 in NCAA career records in points (235)

Stavian Allen
 • Ranks 13th in the MEAC in blocks (0.8)

Steven Whitley
 • Tied career bests with 3 steals and 5 free throws made at Little Rock
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC in steals (1.5), 7th in free throw % (81.3), 15th in 3-point field goal % (37.5) and scoring (12.0) and 20th in rebounding (5.0)

Mastadi Pitt
 • Had career-high 5 assists at Little Rock
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (52.9), 10th in free throw % (77.3), 13th in 3-point field goals (1.5), 14th in field goal % (43.9) and 22nd in scoring (10.3)

Nic Thomas
 • Made career-best 3 3-pointers at Little Rock and had career-high 5 rebounds vs. Robert Morris
 • Made 8-of-9 at the free throw line with career-high 16 points at San Diego; Also made 8-of-9 from the charity stripe against Robert Morris
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in free throw % (80.8) and 20th in scoring (10.7)

Dan Robinson
 • Ranks 15th in the MEAC in blocks (0.7)

Good from 3
Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 255 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.

O'Quinn in the NBA
Former Spartan Kyle O'Quinn is now in his sixth year in the NBA and the third 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. This year, O'Quinn is averaging 6.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.

Professional Spartans
Aside from O'Quinn, NSU has four other players competing professionally. Michael Deloach (Eurobasket Roma) and Pendarvis Williams (Moncada Solar Agrigento) are both competing in the Italian Serie A2 league.

In addition, former Spartans Jonathan Wade (Pully Basket of the Switzerland Basketball League) and Anell Alexis (BBC Coburg of the Germany ProB league) are also competing overseas this year.