NORFOLK, Va. - After opening the season at a nationally ranked opponent, the Norfolk State men's basketball team returns to town for its home opener on Thursday night. The Spartans will host Mid-Atlantic Christian on Thursday night beginning at 7 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

It will also serve as the middle game in a three-game stretch, all occurring within a five-day span. That includes Saturday's home game against Clarion, which will begin at 7 p.m. at Echols Hall.

Media Coverage
The games 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 for both games here and the live video feed for MACU and Clarion. The live video feed also carries the radio broadcast.

Series History
This will mark the second-ever meeting between the two programs. NSU hosted the Mustangs last year, a 112-34 win on Dec. 14, 2017. The Spartans set a whole host of records, including most 3-point attempts ever (37), and D-I records set or tied for margin of victory (78), rebounds (66) and assists (26). The game will not count toward MACU's record.

This will mark the first-ever meeting between NSU and Clarion. The contest will not count toward Clarion's record this year.

Scouting Mid-Atlantic Christian
The Mustangs opened their season with a 95-91 loss at home to Warren Wilson College last Saturday in a Eastern Metro Athletic Conference (EMAC) contest. Talik Totten led MACU with 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting, while Greg Bloodworth tallied 20 points. Malik Galloway (12 points) and Aaron Scott (12 points, 17 rebounds) also had solid games. Scott had 10 rebounds on the offensive side of the ball. The Mustangs also played at Hampton on Tuesday night, falling 110-58 in a game that did not count toward MACU's record. Cyrus Horn led the Mustangs with 11 points, hitting all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. Bloodworth added 10 points and hit two treys as well, part of a 9-of-33 effort from deep. MACU, however, shot just 27 percent from the floor.

Scouting Clarion
The Golden Eagles will not open their season until next Tuesday, and they are looking to improve after a 3-25 finish a year ago, including a winless conference season at 0-22 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). On top of that, both of the team's top scorers are gone in Kyheim Hall (19.4 points, 6.3 rebounds) and Cameron Grumley (17.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists), although Hall played in just seven games. Sophomore Mason Mraz returns after tallying 11.5 points and 5.9 rebounds, and senior Brandon Williams (8.8 points) and sophomore Khari Williams (7.9 points) also return to the lineup. Defense was Clarion's issue, as teams shot nearly 48 percent against the Golden Eagles, 37 percent from deep, and averaged 86 points per game. On average, they were outrebounded by seven boards a game as well.

Last Time Out
After a slow start to the game, including just 13 points in the first half, Norfolk State played nationally ranked Michigan even in the second half in a 63-44 loss to the Wolverines on Tuesday night at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Spartans held the Wolverines to 37 percent shooting for the night while playing to a 31-31 draw in the second half. NSU made just 30.5 percent for the game (18-of-59), including 3-of-12 from deep. Michigan was no better, hitting 23 percent from long range (6-of-26) and 13-of-29 from the foul line. Nic Thomas had nine points and five rebounds to lead the Spartans, and Mastadi Pitt finished with seven points and three assists. Jon Teske led the way for Michigan with 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

Playing a Ranked Opponent
The game against No. 19/18 Michigan marked the first time in two years the Spartans faced a ranked team. It was also be the eighth team the Spartans played that was ranked since their victory over Missouri in the 2012 NCAA tournament. The Spartans have now played 20 ranked opponents total since moving to Division I in 1997.

Early Start
This year's start date of Nov. 6 marked the earliest start to the season ever for NSU. Prior to this year, the Spartans' earliest start date was Nov. 9 in both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

This was the fourth straight year the Spartans opened their season at a Power 5 opponent (South Carolina, 2015; Mississippi State, 2016; Auburn, 2017; Michigan, 2018). It was also the 14th time in the past 15 years NSU began its season away from home.

Busy Stretch
The Spartans will begin the season with three games in five days from Nov. 6-10. It is one of three such stretches for NSU this year. They will also play 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 plays nine of them in November.

Redshirts
Norfolk State has eight players on its roster this year who have used a redshirt at some point in their careers. Only four teams in Division I have more (CSU Bakersfield, UCF, Rider, Saint Mary's), and only three others also have eight players with redshirt seasons (Colorado State, Florida Gulf Coast, Wisconsin).