KENT, Ohio - Coming off a double overtime win over its heated rival, the Norfolk State men's basketball team heads on the road to play Kent State on Saturday. Game time is 4 p.m. from the M.A.C. Center. It will mark NSU's last game in more than a week as the Spartans break for finals week.

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, available through the WatchESPN app. Fans can also follow along with the live stats.

Series History
NSU has played Kent State twice in its history, including last year at home. The Golden Flashes won that contest by a 79-70 score after overcoming a 12-point deficit early in the second half. KSU also won the first matchup between the two teams, an 84-66 decision on Jan. 4, 2010 at the M.A.C. Center.

Scouting Kent State
The Golden Flashes improved to 6-1 on the year after defeating Detroit Mercy on Wednesday on the road by four, 76-72. Their only loss was to Liberty at home by seven, while KSU also owns wins over Savannah State (104-84) and Vanderbilt of the SEC (77-75).

For the season, KSU averages nearly 83 points per game while shooting 45 percent overall and 37 percent from deep. Jaylin Walker missed the first five games of the year but has returned for the last two to average 29.0 points per game, hitting 11 3-pointers during that time. Three other players score in double figures, including Jalen Avery (15.9 points, 3.0 3-pointers, 4.4 assists). Antonio Williams (14.0 points) and CJ Williamson (12.1 points).

Philip Whittington tallies 7.4 points but also 7.9 rebounds, helping the Golden Flashes control the boards by a +4.4 margin per game. They also turn the ball over just 11 times per game while forcing 14 each time out.

Last Time Out
It was one of the greatest Battle of the Bays ever, including just the second-ever two overtime contest between Norfolk State and Hampton. After watching Hampton tie the game up late in both regulation and the first overtime, the Spartans came away with a 94-89 win over the Pirates on Thursday night at Echols Hall.

The Pirates sank the game-tying 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in regulation, erasing a seven-point deficit over the last 1:22. They also made 1-of-2 from the line with 16.7 seconds to go in the first overtime to tie the game up yet again. But NSU led most of the second overtime, and Nic Thomas' deep 3-pointer from the right wing with 42 seconds to go gave the Spartans just enough for a four-point lead.

Thomas had a career-best 25 points, while Steven Whitley added 20 points and nine rebounds. Jordan Butler (17 points, nine rebounds) and Mastadi Pitt (17 points) also contributed throughout the night. They were also instrumental in NSU shooting 33-of-40 from the free throw line. The Spartans held Hampton to 34 percent shooting.

Season Trends
 • NSU is averaging 21.8 points off turnovers the last four games, and 13.0 second-chance points and 14.3 fastbreak points the last 3 games

 • NSU is outscoring teams 19.6 - 11.8 in points off turnovers, 31.3 - 22.7 in points in the paint, and 10.7 - 5.7 in fastbreak points.

 • In 7 of the first 9 games, the opposition has had either the same amount or more turnovers than NSU (+4.9).

 • In 6 of the first 9 games, the Spartans have scored more points in the second half than the first (+4.9). They also shoot better in the second half (43.4 - 41.9), as do opponents (41.3 - 35.5).

 • NSU is averaging 6.8 steals the last 4 games and 7.3 blocks the last 3 games.

Player Facts
Nic Thomas
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.8), 7th in scoring (14.6), 12th in free throw % (75.9) and 13th in 3-point field goal % (40.3)
 • Stands No. 108 in the nation in 3-point field goals per game (2.78) and No. 113 in 3-point field goal % (40.3)
 • Averaging 17.5 points and 3.8 rebounds last 4 games
 • Scored career-high 25 points against Hampton in career-best 45 minutes; 5th career 20-point game; Made 4 3-pointers for the 3rd time in 4 games and 6th time in his career

Steven Whitley
 • Ranks 9th in the MEAC in assists (3.1), 10th in assist-turnover ratio (1.0), 11th in steals (1.4), 14th in defensive rebounds (3.8) and 22nd in scoring (10.5)
 • Ranks 5th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.37)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 162 in assists (216) and No. 445 in rebounds (277)
 • Averaging 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals last 5 games
 • Played a career-high 40 minutes against Hampton and scored season-high 20 points, 3rd career 20-point game

Jordan Butler
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in blocks (2.1), 11th in free throw % (77.1), rebounds (5.4) and offensive rebounds (2.0), and 26th in scoring (9.7)
 • Stands No. 59 in the nation in blocks (2.11)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (184)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 7th in blocks (184), No. 23 in block average (1.75), No. 54 in rebounds (570) and No. 75 in games played (105)
 • Averaging 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds last 5 games
 • Shot career-high 13-of-14 from the free throw line against Hampton in career-high tying 37 minutes; tied for the 3rd-most free throws made by an NSU player in D-I history
 • Also scored season-best 17 points with season highs of 9 rebounds and 5 blocks
 • 19-of-21 from the free throw line last 2 games

Alex Long
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in blocks (1.2) and 9th in field goal % (50.8)
 • Stands No. 194 in the nation in blocks (1.22)
 • Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (114)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 32 in games played (108), No. 42 in blocks (114) and No. 81 in rebounds (522)
 • Shooting 22-of-37 last 6 games (59.5%) and averaging 10.3 points and 1.5 blocks last 4 games

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in assists (2.9)
 • Averaging 15.5 points last 2 games
 • Has at least 3 assists in 7 of 8 games played
 • Scored season-high 17 points against Hampton

Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Stands No. 155 in the nation in double-doubles (1)
 • Ranks 8th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (39.5), 19th in 3-point field goal attempts (228) and 20th in 3-point field goals (90)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 352 in 3-pointers (90)

C.J. Kelly
 • Set new career high with 4 steals against Stony Brook (Nov. 27)

Armani Branch
 • Had season-high 8 rebounds against Hampton and 10 points vs. Stony Brook (Nov. 27)

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in scoring defense (66.4), field goal percentage defense (38.2) and turnover margin (+4.89), 2nd in scoring margin (+8.8), 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.9), blocks (5.2) and defensive rebound percentage (72.4), and 3rd in defensive rebounds (27.7).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks 28th in turnovers forced (17.67), 29th in turnover margin (+4.9), 32nd in blocks (5.2), 39th in field goal percentage defense (38.2), 73rd in 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.9), 80th in scoring defense (66.4) and 97th in defensive rebounds (27.67).

Early Season Notes
 • NSU's 33 free throws against Hampton stand as the third-most in a game in the program's D-I history.

Busy Stretch
The Spartans began the season with three games in five days from Nov. 6-10. It is one of three such stretches for NSU this year. They also played three games in five days from Nov. 16-20 and then again from Nov. 27-Dec. 1. Of its 15 non-conference games this year, Norfolk State played nine of them in November.