NORFOLK, Va. - The new year brings familiar foes back to the schedule as MEAC play begins on Wednesday when the Norfolk State men's basketball team hosts Coppin State at 8 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

NSU is coming off its second win of the season, a 74-68 triumph at Stony Brook on Saturday. The contest against CSU, however, will be followed by four straight conference road games in addition to a home non-conference contest against Elizabeth City State.

Media Coverage
The game 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.

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
The Spartans will look to make it 10 in a row over Coppin State, as the Eagles have not beaten NSU since a wild 87-82 victory in Norfolk on Jan. 30, 2012. Winners of 15 of the last 17 against CSU, the Spartans now lead the all-time series, 28-11.

Scouting Coppin State
The Eagles stand 0-15 on the year after facing a very difficult non-conference schedule, one highlighted by just two home games and numerous money games against high-level schools. As a result, the Eagles have been outscored on average by 23 points per game. They score just 53.5 while shooting 33 percent overall and 28.5 percent from 3-point range. Karonn Davis leads the way with 9.3 points per game, with Lamar Morgan adding 8.6 points and 4.9 rebounds. Tre' Thomas (6.9 points) and Adam Traore (6.8 points, 6.0 rebounds) are two more names to watch out for. Even though they don't get to the free throw line too often, the Eagles do make 75 percent of their shots when they do. CSU has also been outrebounded by 14 boards per game, although despite the daudy schedule, they have only turned it over 14 times per contest.

Last Time Out
Down by 10 with less than 10 minutes to go, NSU pushed ahead for a 74-68 win over Stony Brook on Saturday at Island Federal Credit Union Arena. The Spartans used an 11-0 run to erase the 10-point SBU lead. It marked the first of five lead changes in less than two and a half minutes. Kyle Williams hit a pair of treys during the 11-0 run, and he and Whitley added one more each later in the game to keep the Spartans ahead for good. Stony Brook shot just 26 percent in the second half and cooled greatly from 3-point range. NSU outscored the Seawolves 40-29 after the break. Williams finished with a season-high 21 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Whitley added 18 on 7-of-13 shooting with seven rebounds and four steals. The Spartans made 26-of-52, exactly 50 percent, for the game.

Spartan Team Tidbits
 • Over the past two games, opponents have shot 32.7 percent overall and 27.5 percent from 3-point range. It 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.

 • On the flip side, Norfolk State is shooting 46.5 percent from the floor over the last five games, including its three highest totals of the season during that time. The Spartans shot a season-best 50 percent at Stony Brook.

 • The Spartans had a season-high 13 steals at Loyola Chicago. It marked the most steals in a game since NSU had 14 against Morgan State on Jan. 21, 2013. NSU has tallied 8.6 steals during the last seven games with opponents averaging 16.9 turnovers.

 • In 11 of 14 games this year, the opposition has hit at least eight 3-pointers, including double digits in nine games.

 • Norfolk State has been a second half team. They have scored more points in the second half than the first in 10 of 14 games, with a 36.7-32.4 points per half discrepancy (+4.3) 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 10 of 14 games.

 • The Spartans also have a +0.1 rebounding margin after the break compared to a -1.8 margin before, and they average 8.9 turnovers in the first half and 7.5 after the intermission.

 • The Spartans used five different starting lineups in the first six games and eight different combinations altogether this season.

 • So far this year, Norfolk State has had more fouls than the other team in 11 out of 14 games.

 • NSU ranks third in the MEAC in blocks (3.5), scoring defense (76.3), steals (6.8) and turnover margin (-0.14), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (34.7), opponent rebounding (36.1), offensive rebounds (11.6) and 3-point field goals (7.4), and fifth in scoring margin (-7.2), field goal percentage (41.2), field goal percentage defense (44.8), offensive rebound percentage (30.9) and assists (13.1).

 • On a national level, NSU stands No. 45 in turnovers forced (16.21), No. 105 in offensive rebounds (11.57), No. 137 in steals (6.8) and No. 162 in blocks (3.5).

Player Tidbits
Alex Long
 • Averaging 12.0 points on 36-of-64 shooting and 5.4 rebounds last 7 games
 • Has 7 blocks last 4 games
 • Stands 8th in the MEAC in field goal % (51.8), 12th in blocks (0.8) and 23rd in scoring (10.2)
 • Ranks 10th all-time at NSU in blocks (86)
 • Ranks No. 306 in NCAA career records in rebounds (363) and No. 697 in points (552)

Kyle Williams
 • Averaging 12.5 points on 15-of-29 shooting, including 9-of-18 3-point shooting, and 3.5 rebounds last 4 games; Also 11-of-12 from the free throw line
 • Had season-high 21 points at Stony Brook, his 3rd career 20-point game
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (39.1) and 9th in 3-point field goals (1.9)
 • Ranks 12th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (36.8)
 • Stands No. 1,281 in NCAA career records in points (317)

Preston Bungei
 • Has 10 assists the last 3 games
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in blocks (1.1), 11th in field goal % (44.1), 15th in defensive rebounds (4.1) and assists (2.5), 17th in rebounding (5.5) and 24th in scoring (10.1)
 • Also stands No. 241 in the nation in blocks (1.07)
 • Ranks No. 1,252 in NCAA career records in points (324)

Steven Whitley
 • Tied career highs with 18 points, 2 3-pointers and 4 steals at Stony Brook while shooting career-best 7-of-13
 • Averaging 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals last 5 games and 2.9 steals last 7 games
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in steals (2.1), 7th in assists (4.0), 9th in assist-turnover ratio (1.3), 14th in defensive rebounds (4.2), 15th in scoring (11.6) and 16th in rebounding (5.7)
 • Stands No. 35 in the nation in steals (2.14), No. 159 in assists (4.0) and No. 207 in double doubles (2)
 • Ranks No. 1,452 in NCAA career records in points (265)

Mastadi Pitt
 • Has 6 assists the last 2 games
 • Ranks 10th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (38.0)

Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in 3-point field goals (1.9)
 • Shot 5-of-6 from 3-point range against Niagara while tying career high with 6 rebounds; Tied school record for 3-point field goal % in a game (minimum 5 makes) set by Jerome Garrett (also 5-of-6) on Jan. 25, 1988 at Bowie State

Nic Thomas
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in free throw % (75.8)

Bryan Gellineau
 • Posted career-high 11 points at Stony Brook while tying career-best with 5-of-8 shooting

What Deficit?
NSU has erased a double-digit deficit in a victory 12 times in the previous three-plus seasons, including the first time this year at Stony Brook (10-point deficit).

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 22-18. The next closest rivalry is currently North Carolina A&T (25-20).