NORFOLK, Va. - The Battle of the Bay arrives early this year, as Norfolk State and Hampton renew their rivalry in men's basketball this Thursday at 7 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall. For the first time since the early 1960's, the two teams will play each other while members of a different conference.

It will mark the first time since 2006 the two teams will compete both in November and before New Year's. The contest will be the only game between the two teams this season, the first time since 1996-97 they will not play a home-and-home. After more than 20 years in the MEAC, Hampton moved to the Big South Conference before the start of the current athletics year.

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon on the call. Live audio is available through hot91.nsu.edu:8000/128. The audio feed is also available through www.TuneIn.com or the TuneIn Radio App (search for "WNSB").

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
By far NSU's most played rivalry, the Spartans lead the all-time series, 85-48, with Hampton ahead 26-22 since the programs went Division I. The Pirates have won the past three meetings, including a sweep of the regular season a year ago. It has been 12 years since one team did not win at least two games in a row in the series.

Since NSU joined the CIAA in 1962-63, Hampton and NSU have competed as conference foes every year except 1995-96 and 1996-97, when the two teams did not play during the last two seasons of NSU's D-II days.

Scouting Hampton
Hampton is coming off a 20-point win over Richmond, a game in which Jermaine Marrow and Kalin Fisher combined for 65 points. That ran HU's record to 2-4 on the year. The Pirates also played close games against VCU (69-57) and Cal (80-66) before suffering single-digit losses to Bowling Green and Loyola (Md.) on a neutral court.

Marrow finished with 38 points on 12-of-19 shooting at Richmond, and on the season he is averaging 27.0 points per game. Fisher had 27 against the Spiders and is second on the team at 14.8 points with 6.3 rebounds. Akim Mitchell (7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds) also adds offense, and Greg Heckstall is the leader on the glass at 7.3 boards.

Thanks in part to 80 percent free throw shooting, Hampton averages 77 points per game despite shooting just 40 percent from the floor and 31 percent from deep. The Pirates do hold a +4.3 edge on the glass while also turning the ball over nearly 14 times per contest.

Last Time Out
The Spartans fell behind by as much as 18 in the second half. After trimming the deficit all the way to three, Stony Brook was able to hold on in the end in a 79-73 win over Norfolk State on Tuesday night at Echols Hall. NSU got the deficit to single digits with seven minutes left, and then to three with four minutes to go on Nic Thomas' 3-pointer. Stony Brook increased its lead to as much as nine in the last minute.

Thomas made four treys and finished with 18 points, 15 in the second half. He made 6-of-12 overall, 4-of-7 from deep, with four rebounds. Mastadi Pitt added 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting with four assists. Jordan Butler and Armani Branch each tallied 10 points.

For Stony Brook, Jaron Cornish had a game-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Akwasi Yeboah added 16 points and seven boards, and along with Jeff Otchere (12 points, seven rebounds), helped the Seawolves control the glass, 35-19. SBU shot 55 percent for the game while committing 19 turnovers.

Season Trends
 • NSU is averaging 22.3 points off turnovers the last three games and 19.5 for the season.

 • NSU is outscoring teams 19.5 - 11.1 in points off turnovers, 28.8 - 18.5 in points in the paint, and 10.0 - 5.8 in fastbreak points.

 • In 7 of the first 8 games, the opposition has had either the same amount or more turnovers than NSU (+5.9).

 • In 6 of the first 8 games, the Spartans have scored more points in the second half than the first (+6.9). They also shoot better in the second half (44.7 - 41.8), as do opponents (41.5 - 36.7).

 • NSU is averaging 7.7 steals the last 3 games.

Player Facts
Nic Thomas
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.6), 10th in scoring (13.3) and 12th in 3-point field goal percentage (40.4)
 • Stands No. 126 in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (40.4) and No. 142 in 3-point field goals per game (2.63)
 • Made 4 3-pointers against Stony Brook (Nov. 27), the 3rd game with 4+ treys

Steven Whitley
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in assists (3.4), 8th in assist-turnover ratio (1.2), 13th in steals (1.3) and 28th in scoring (9.1)
 • Ranks 5th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.45)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 161 in assists (215) and No. 465 in rebounds (268)
 • Averaging 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals last 4 games

Jordan Butler
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in blocks (1.8), 11th in free throw percentage (70.6), 14th in rebounds (5.0) and 30th in scoring (8.8)
 • Stands No. 91 in the nation in blocks (1.75)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (179)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 8th in blocks (179), No. 25 in block average (1.72), No. 55 in rebounds (561) and No. 89 in games played (104)
 • Averaging 9.8 points and 5.5 rebounds last 4 games

Alex Long
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in blocks (1.0) and 10th in field goal percentage (48.1)
 • Stands No. 234 in the nation in blocks (1.00)
 • Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (111)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 41 in games played (107), No. 43 in blocks (111) and No. 79 in rebounds (521)
 • Shooting 18-of-32 last 5 games and averaging 11.0 points last 3 games

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in assists (2.9)
 • Has at least 3 assists in 6 of 7 games played
 • Season-high 14 points against Stony Brook (Nov. 27)

Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Ranks 14th in the MEAC in offensive rebounds (1.8) and 15th 3-point field goals (1.8)
 • Stands No. 140 in the nation in double-doubles (1)
 • Ranks 8th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (39.6), 19th in 3-point field goal attempts (225) and 20th in 3-point field goals (89)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 349 in 3-pointers (89)

C.J. Kelly
 • Ranks 14th in the MEAC in blocks (0.8)
 • Set new career high with 4 steals against Stony Brook (Nov. 27)

Armani Branch
 • Had season-high 10 points against Stony Brook (Nov. 27)

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in scoring defense (63.6) and turnover margin (+5.88), and 2nd in scoring margin (+9.2), field goal percentage defense (39.0), blocks (4.9) and defensive rebound percentage (72.6).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks 15th in turnover margin (+5.9), 16th in turnovers forced (18.38), 47th in scoring defense (63.6), 53rd in field goal percentage defense (39.0), 57th in blocks (4.9) and 81st in 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.9).

Good from 3
Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 290 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.