NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State men's basketball team will serve as host when first-place Bethune-Cookman comes to town on Saturday. The first of three straight home games, part of a stretch of 6-of-8 at home, will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

The home swing will continue on Monday when the Spartans welcome Florida A&M to Echols. Tip-off for that contest is set for 8 p.m.

Media Coverage
The games 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
Norfolk State leads the all-time series 19-13, but it's been back and forth lately. Both teams won at home last year, while the Spartans won the only meeting in each of the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. The Wildcats were victorious in 2015-16 in the only meeting that year as well. The series began in 1964-65. The Spartans won that first game as well as at the beginning of the following season. Aside from those two contests, though, the teams have only played since NSU moved to the MEAC in the late 1990's.

Norfolk State's longest current win streak against MEAC foes stands at 13 against Florida A&M, which hasn't beaten the Spartans since 2006-07. Only once during that win streak have the Rattlers lost by less than eight points. FAMU came close last year, eventually fading in the second overtime at home and falling 77-65. Along with South Carolina State, FAMU is one of two MEAC schools NSU never faced in its Division II days.

Scouting Bethune-Cookman
The Wildcats stand 5-0 in the conference, the last undefeated team in the league, as well as 11-9 overall. Five players score in double figures on an offense that averages nearly 80 per game. Brandon Tabb (18.0 points, 63 total 3-pointers) and Isaiah Bailey (15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists) lead the way, while Malik Maitland (10.8 points, 4.9 assists) directs traffic. Thanks in part to Tabb, B-CU averages nearly eight 3-pointers per game. The Wildcats also have the two of the three best rebounders in the league. Soufiyane Diakite grabs a league-best 8.9 boards to go along with 10.0 points, and Shawntrez Davis adds 13.2 points and 8.4 rebounds. B-CU is +3.0 on the glass each time out to go along with 3.9 blocks per game. Opponents also average nearly 80 per game while forcing the Wildcats into 15.5 turnovers.

Scouting Florida A&M
The Rattlers stand just 3-18 overall and 2-3 in the MEAC, owning wins against Howard and Delaware State. However, Florida A&M last competed on Jan. 15, the double OT victory against DSU. The Rattlers lost all 15 Division I non-conference games, and thus score just 66 per game while giving up almost 81. The two-headed monster of Marcus Barham (17.3 points) and Desmond Williams (16.3 points, 5.2 rebounds) has carried the offense, with the next two players at 8.1 points each (Isaiah Martin and Elijah Mayes). FAMU only connects on 40 percent overall, compared to 49 percent overall by opponents. The Rattlers also lose the rebounding battle (-6.2 boards per game) and the turnover battle (-1.9) while allowing teams to also shoot nearly 38 percent from 3-point range.

Last Time Out
Nine lead changes took place in the last 5:10 of regulation before the teams went into overtime, but Savannah State scored the first eight points of the extra session and then held back Norfolk State in a 104-99 win over the Spartans on Monday night. NSU fell despite shooting 58 percent from the floor. The Tigers survived despite a 15-of-28 effort from the free throw line in regulation. They made 17 3-pointers for the night and forced 23 Spartan turnovers. NSU sophomore Nic Thomas added a career-high 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting with six boards and three assists. Alex Long added 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds as well for a Spartan team that outscored SSU 46-24 in points in the paint. The Tigers, however, got a career night from Dexter McClanahan, who made 12-of-19 overall, including 7-of-13 from deep, for 37 points with eight rebounds.

Spartan Team Tidbits
 • NSU had 34 points off turnovers and 23 fastbreak points against North Carolina A&T, both 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 posting 35 against Howard on March 2, 2009. The 23 fastbreak points were the most since having 26 against Duquesne on Jan. 2, 2011. The Spartans have averaged 21.7 points off turnovers and 12.0 fastbreak points the past three games in addition to 12.0 second-chance points the last six games.

 • NSU had 46 points in the paint against Savannah State, also a season high against D-I opponents. The Spartans are averaging 33.2 points in the paint the last five games.

 • The Spartans have connected on 51.9 percent from the floor the past three games, including 41.4 percent from 3-point range (29-of-70). They hit 58.2 percent overall against Savannah State, one of the top 15 best shooting percentages in a game in their Division I history. The Spartans also piled up 22 assists (tied for eighth most in D-I history) on 39 field goals (tied for sixth most).

 • They scored 99 in the overtime loss at Savannah State, the most points scored in a setback in 11 years since a 104-99 loss against North Carolina A&T on Feb. 24, 2007.

 • NSU held South Carolina State to just 29.4 percent shooting. In fact, NSU is 0-15 this year when opponents shoot at least 40 percent overall, and 0-14 when the opposition scores at least 70 points. The Spartans have not won this year when the other team shoots better either overall, or from 3-point range, or both.

 • Norfolk State has held the rebounding edge each of the last six games and is +43 on the glass during that time.

 • In 15 of 20 games this year, the opposition has hit at least eight 3-pointers, including double digits in 13 games.

 • So far this year, Norfolk State has had more fouls than the other team in 15 out of 20 games. Opponents have shot at least 20 free throws each of the last 10 games.

 • Norfolk State has been a second half team. They have scored more points in the second half than the first in 15 of 20 games, with a 38.0-32.4 points per half discrepancy (+5.6) 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 14 of 20 games (38.8-35.7, +3.1).

 • The Spartans also have a +2.0 rebounding margin after the break compared to a -1.0 margin before.

 • Six different players have led NSU in scoring this year: Mastadi Pitt (5), Derrik Jamerson Jr. (4), Kyle Williams, Alex Long and Nic Thomas (3), 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 second in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (35.6), third in scoring defense (75.2), opponent rebounding (35.0), defensive rebound percentage (71.1), blocks (3.8) and 3-point field goals (7.9), and fourth in field goal percentage defense (43.8), offensive rebounds (11.7) and steals (6.4).

 • On a national level, NSU stands No. 39 in turnovers forced (15.85), No. 81 in offensive rebounds (11.70), No. 131 in blocks (3.8), No. 138 in 3-point field goal percentage (35.6), No. 157 in 3-point field goals (7.9), No. 167 in rebounds (36.05) and No. 171 in steals (6.4).

Player Tidbits
Alex Long
 • Averaging 14.8 points on 24-of-37 shooting with 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals last 4 games, and 5.9 rebounds last 11 games
 • Had 2nd 20-point game of career with 20 at Savannah State
 • Stands 6th in the MEAC in field goal % (54.5), 12th in blocks (0.8) and 21st in scoring (11.1)
 • Ranks 7th all-time at NSU in blocks (91)
 • Ranks No. 297 in NCAA career records in rebounds (398)

Kyle Williams
 • Averaging 12.8 points on 33-of-72 shooting (45.8 percent), 20-of-49 from 3-point range (40.8 percent) and 4.4 rebounds last 8 games; Also 16-of-18 from the free throw line during that time
 • Tied career high with 2 blocks at South Carolina State
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (38.6) and 11th in 3-point field goals (2.1)
 • Ranks 11th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (37.0)

Preston Bungei
 • Averaging 2.7 assists the last 9 games
 • Ranks 10th in the MEAC in blocks (0.9), 15th in defensive rebounds (4.2) and 16th in rebounding (5.5)

Steven Whitley
 • Averaging 4.8 assists last 5 games and 2.0 steals last 4 games
 • Shooting 34-of-72 (47.2 percent) last 9 games
 • Had career-high 3 3-pointers at South Carolina State
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in steals (1.9), 8th in assists (4.1), 10th in assist-turnover ratio (1.4), 13th in defensive rebounds (4.2), 15th in rebounding (5.7) and 24th in scoring (10.8)
 • Stands No. 60 in the nation in steals (1.90), No. 154 in assists (4.1) and No. 209 in double doubles (3)

Mastadi Pitt
 • Averaging 2.8 assists the last 8 games and 3.2 rebounds last 5 games
 • Had 17 points on career-high tying 7-of-12 field goals at South Carolina State
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (36.2)

Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Averaging 10.5 points last 6 games on 19-of-39 3-point shooting
 • Tied career highs with 6 rebounds and 3 steals at North Carolina A&T; Has 6 steals the last 4 games
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (39.7) and 9th in 3-point field goals (2.3)
 • Stands No. 194 in the nation in 3-point field goals (2.30)

Nic Thomas
 • Tallied career-highs of 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting with 6 rebounds at Savannah State; Tied career bests with 3 3-pointers and 3 assists as well
 • Shooting 13-of-24 from the field, 6-of-14 from deep, last 3 games
 • Ranks 10th in the MEAC in free throw % (77.1)

Stavian Allen
 • Had career highs of 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting at Savannah State while tying career best with 2 3-pointers

Dan Robinson
 • Ranks 14th in the MEAC in blocks (0.7)

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 6.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 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), Anell Alexis (BBC Coburg of the Germany ProB league), D'Shon Taylor (Bahamas) and Jamel Fuentes (Mexico) are also competing overseas this year.