ORANGEBURG, S.C. - The Norfolk State men's basketball team continues a long road trip on Saturday when the Spartans travel to Orangeburg to take on South Carolina State. Tip off from the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center is set for 4 p.m.
It follows NSU's contest on Thursday at North Carolina A&T that was rescheduled from Wednesday. The game against SCSU also precedes Monday's game at Savannah State that begins at 8 p.m. and closes out the trip.
Media Coverage
The games against South Carolina State and Savannah State will be broadcast live on Famous 1310 AM as well as Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon on the call. Live audio is available through
www.wgh1310.com as well as
hot91.nsu.edu:8000/128. Both feeds are available on smartphones through the Famous 1310 website or through
www.TuneIn.com or the TuneIn Radio App (search for "WNSB") for Hot 91.1.
Live stats and live video will not be available against South Carolina State. Savannah State will have
live stats and
live video available.
Series History
Norfolk State has won three in a row over South Carolina State and six of the last seven to extend its lead in the all-time series to 22-18. The Bulldogs' lone win during that time came in the 2016 MEAC Tournament semifinals. The Spartans, however, defeated SCSU in the 2015 and '17 tournaments. Last year's win came by a 93-88 score in overtime in the quarterfinal round. Norfolk State has a winning edge against every MEAC team all-time, with SCSU and North Carolina A&T (25-21) the closest series to date.
Norfolk State has won 10 in a row over Savannah State to build a 10-3 lead in the all-time series. The Tigers' three wins all came in the late 1950's and early 1960's. All 10 of the Spartans' wins have come during the Division I era, including the last eight since Savannah State joined the conference in 2011-12.
Scouting South Carolina State
The Bulldogs stand 7-12 overall and 3-1 in the MEAC after running off three straight wins over Delaware State, Howard and Maryland Eastern Shore. They currently sit behind North Carolina Central, North Carolina A&T and Bethune-Cookman (all 4-0) in the MEAC standings. Donte Wright (14.4 points per game) leads the way for an offense that scores 71 per game but also gives up 81. In fact, opponents shoot nearly 50 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range. Damani Applewhite (11.5 points, 6.6 rebounds) and James Richardson (9.6 points) are two more contributors on offense, while Janai Rayner-Powell adds 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists. The opposition has the edge on the glass (2.4 rebounds per game) and has almost two more blocks than SCSU each time out.
Scouting Savannah State
The Tigers, like Savannah State, stand 3-1 in the MEAC heading into the weekend with the only loss coming to Morgan State by one point on the road. SSU also sits 6-13 overall with an offense that scores almost 80 a game but gives up 93 as well. The Tigers only shoot 38 percent overall and 29 percent from 3-point range. Dexter McClanahan leads the way with 14.2 points, followed by Alante Fenner (11.3 points, game-high 4.4 rebounds) and Zach Sellers (9.3 points, 4.1 assists). Five other players score at least five points, and six make at least one 3-pointer per contest for a team that averages 11.6. Opponents shoot nearly 50 percent from the floor, 38 percent from 3-point range and hold a 12.2 rebounding edge each time out. The Tigers easily win the turnover margin, +3.9 per game.
Last Time Out
Norfolk State came roaring back after being down by 15 at the half. After taking the lead twice, NSU eventually tied the score at 68-all with less than a minute left. But North Carolina A&T's Devonte Boykins hit a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left to lift the Aggies to a 71-68 win on Thursday afternoon at A&T's Corbett Sports Center. Denzel Keyes added 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting. He and Boykins each sank 4-of-6 from long range, part of a 10-of-20 effort by the Aggies from beyond the arc. The Spartans nearly pulled off the comeback after hitting just 33 percent in the first half but 53 percent in the second. A 21-9 discrepency in fouls in favor of the Aggies led to a 17-of-21 effort for A&T from the foul line. NSU, on the other hand, shot just 3-of-6. The Spartans held advantages in points off turnovers (34-16), fastbreak points (23-8) and points in the paint (38-20).
Spartan Team Tidbits
• NSU had 38 points in the paint, 34 points off turnovers and 23 fastbreak points against North Carolina A&T, all season highs against Division I competition. The 34 points off turnovers were the most since having 34 against Pfeiffer on Nov. 14, 2014, and the most against a D-I opponent since 35 against Howard on March 2, 2009. The 23 fastbreak points were the most since having 26 against Duquesne on Jan. 2, 2011.
• Norfolk State had a season-high nine blocks against North Carolina Central and has had 18 over the past three games. The Spartans also have 19 steals the last two games.
• The Spartans have averaged 13.0 second-chance points the last five games.
• Norfolk State has held the rebounding edge each of the last four games and is +27 on the glass during that time. It was +19 on the glass against Coppin State, its largest rebounding margin against a Division I team since a +23 edge at Florida A&M on Feb. 18 of last season.
• In 14 of 18 games this year, the opposition has hit at least eight 3-pointers, including double digits in 12 games.
• So far this year, Norfolk State has had more fouls than the other team in 13 out of 18 games. Opponents have shot at least 20 free throws each of the last eight games.
• In a four game stretch from Dec. 22-Jan. 8, opponents shot 36.1 percent overall and 28.0 percent from 3-point range. Games against Old Dominion, Stony Brook and Coppin State marked the first times this season against D-I opponents NSU allowed less than 40 percent overall shooting and less than 35 percent 3-point shooting in the same game.
• Norfolk State has been a second half team. They have scored more points in the second half than the first in 13 of 18 games, with a 36.9-31.9 points per half discrepancy (+5.0) from the second to the first. Opponents, as well, have scored the same amount or more points in the second half compared to the first half in 13 of 18 games (39.2-35.6, +3.6)
• The Spartans also have a +1.7 rebounding margin after the break compared to a -1.4 margin before.
• Six different players have led NSU in scoring this year:
Mastadi Pitt and
Derrik Jamerson Jr. (4),
Kyle Williams and
Alex Long (3), and
Nic Thomas and
Steven Whitley (2).
• The Spartans used five different starting lineups in the first six games and eight different combinations altogether this season.
• NSU ranks third in the MEAC in scoring defense (74.8), opponent rebounding (35.1) and blocks (3.8), fourth in offensive rebounds (12.0), defensive rebound percentage (70.7), offensive rebound percentage (30.2), and steals (6.6), and fifth in field goal percentage defense (44.6), 3-point field goal percentage (34.8), turnover margin (-0.33), and 3-point field goals (7.6).
• On a national level, NSU stands No. 37 in turnovers forced (16.06), No. 73 in offensive rebounds (12.00), No. 122 in blocks (3.8) and No. 160 in steals (6.6).
Player Tidbits
Alex Long
• Averaging 13.5 points, 2.5 blocks and 2.5 steals last 2 games and 5.7 rebounds last 9 games
• Played in a career-high 36 minutes against Elizabeth City State
• Stands 10th in the MEAC in field goal % (52.1), 11th in blocks (0.9) and 26th in scoring (10.5)
• Ranks 7th all-time at NSU in blocks (91)
• Ranks No. 314 in NCAA career records in rebounds (384) and No. 704 in points (597)
Kyle Williams
• Averaging 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds last 6 games; Also 14-of-16 from the free throw line
• Ranks 9th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (37.4) and 11th in 3-point field goals (2.0)
• Ranks 12th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (36.4)
• Stands No. 1,264 in NCAA career records in points (357)
Preston Bungei
• Tied career high with 12 rebounds vs. Coppin State and is averaging 6.4 boards and 3.0 assists the last 5 games
• Ranks 9th in the MEAC in blocks (0.9), 14th in defensive rebounds (4.3), 15th in assists (2.5) and 16th in rebounding (5.7)
• Ranks No. 1,291 in NCAA career records in points (350)
Steven Whitley
• Averaging 6.6 rebounds last 9 games
• Had 3rd career double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds against Elizabeth City State
• Ranks 1st in the MEAC in steals (1.9), 9th in assists (4.0), 11th in assist-turnover ratio (1.3), 14th in rebounding (5.8) and defensive rebounds (4.3) and 24th in scoring (10.8)
• Stands No. 60 in the nation in steals (1.94), No. 167 in assists (4.0) and No. 188 in double doubles (3)
• Ranks No. 1,482 in NCAA career records in points (296)
Mastadi Pitt
• Averaging 2.8 assists the last 6 games
• Ranks 6th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (39.0) and 12th in free throw % (78.7)
Derrik Jamerson Jr.
• Averaging 11.8 points last 4 games on 15-of-29 3-point shooting
• Tied career highs with 6 rebounds and 3 steals at North Carolina A&T
• Ranks 4th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (39.6) and 6th in 3-point field goals (2.3)
• Stands No. 188 in the nation in 3-point field goals (2.33)
Nic Thomas
• Ranks 13th in the MEAC in free throw % (78.0)
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 rivals over the years have been S.C. State (22-18) and North Carolina A&T (25-21).
