CHICAGO, Ill. - Norfolk State continues its month-long road trek, this time heading to Chicago to take on Loyola Chicago on Sunday afternoon for the third straight year. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. from Gentile Arena.

NSU is searching for its first road win of the season. It will also mark the second game this season for NSU against a 2018 Final Four participant after opening the year at last year's national runner-up, Michigan.

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").

It will also be shown live on ESPN+, available through the WatchESPN app, with Jordan Bernfield and Stephond Robinson on the call. Fans can also follow along with the live stats.

Series History
NSU and Loyola have met twice in their history, both coming at Loyola each of the last two seasons. The Ramblers won both meetings, including 75-62 two seasons ago and then 80-52 last year.

Scouting Loyola Chicago
The Ramblers own a 5-5 record on the year, most recently falling at then No. 24 Maryland, 55-41 on Dec. 8. Loyola has also dropped close contests to No. 23 Furman (60-58), No. 7 Nevada (79-65) and Ball State (75-69) one year after making the Final Four and going 32-6.

Loyola has limited teams to 65 points per game, and the Ramblers also shoot nearly 48 percent themselves. They do most of their damage inside the arc, knocking down just 31 percent from 3-point range and 63 percent from the free throw line.

Three players score in double figures for the Ramblers, led by Marques Townes at 14.2 points and 5.8 rebounds. Cameron Krutwig (13.7 points, 7.3 rebounds) and Clayton Custer (13.5 points) also help carry the load for Loyola. Cooper Kaifes is next in line among active players with 6.1 points.

Last Time Out
NSU fell behind by 18 in the first half, but a 26-5 run spanning both halves put the Spartans in the lead on Wednesday night at Rider. But after a back-and-forth second half, Rider scored 12 of the last 14 points of the game to defeat the Spartans 81-71.

The Spartans held the Broncs to 32 percent shooting in the second half after Rider made 53 percent in the first. One player for them who did have a good second half was Jordan Allen, who had 16 of his 20 points after halftime to lead the Broncs. The second period featured 10 lead changes.

Nic Thomas paced NSU with 16 points, hitting 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Derrik Jamerson Jr. added 14 points, and Alex Long with 13 as well. Rider had five players in double figures.

Season Trends
 • NSU is averaging 14.0 fastbreak points the last 5 games.

 • NSU is outscoring teams 17.8 - 13.4 in points off turnovers, 31.5 - 24.4 in points in the paint, and 11.2 - 8.0 in fastbreak points on the year.

 • NSU is averaging 6.0 blocks the last 5 games and 22.8 made free throws the last 4 games.

 • In 7 of the first 11 games, the opposition has had either the same amount or more turnovers than NSU (+2.4). NSU has also had more fouls than the other team in 8 of 11 games as well.

 • In 7 of the first 11 games, the Spartans have scored more points in the second half than the first (+5.4). They also shoot better in the second half (44.3 - 41.4), as do opponents (41.8 - 37.2).

 • The Spartans are currently 0-6 when allowing at least 40 percent shooting and 1-7 when allowing at least 60 points.

Player Facts
Nic Thomas
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.5), 6th in scoring (14.6), 8th in free throw % (80.4) and 9th in 3-point field goal % (38.9)
 • Stands No. 111 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (38.9), No. 137 in 3-point field goals per game (2.55) and No. 194 in free throw % (80.4)
 • Averaging 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists and shooting 24-of-29 from the foul line last 4 games
 • Tied career high with 5 assists at Rider

Steven Whitley
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in steals (1.6), 12th in assists (2.8), 11th in defensive rebounds (3.8) and 27th in scoring (9.4)
 • Stands No. 198 in the nation in steals (1.60)
 • Ranks 6th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.23)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 174 in assists (219) and No. 465 in rebounds (285)
 • Averaging 10.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals last 6 games

Jordan Butler
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (2.0), 10th in defensive rebounds (3.8), 11th in free throw % (78.0) and rebounds (5.5), 12th in offensive rebounds (1.8) and 30th in scoring (8.8)
 • Stands No. 49 in the nation in blocks (2.00)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (187)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 8th in blocks (187), No. 25 in block average (1.74), No. 57 in rebounds (582) and No. 93 in games played (107)
 • Tallied season-high 10 rebounds at Rider, 13th career double-digit rebounding game

Alex Long
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in blocks (1.2), 6th in field goal % (56.6), 19th in rebounding (4.4) and 21st in scoring (10.2)
 • Stands No. 190 in the nation in blocks (1.18) and No. 235 in double-doubles (1)
 • Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (116) and 18th in games played (110)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 42 in blocks (116), No. 45 in games played (110) and No. 82 in rebounds (536)
 • Shooting 33-of-49 (67.3%) and averaging 13.0 points and 1.3 blocks last 6 games
 • Set new career high with 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting at Kent State; Finished with 10 rebounds for 1st double-double this year and 6th in his career

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (2.1) and 9th in assists (3.0)
 • Stands No. 138 in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (2.14)
 • Had at least 3 assists in 9 of 10 games played

Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Ranks 13th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (38.0) and 14th in 3-point field goals per game (1.7)
 • Stands No. 235 in the nation in double-doubles (1)
 • Ranks 8th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (39.5), 18th in 3-point field goals (94) and 19th in 3-point field goal attempts (238)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 357 in 3-pointers (94)
 • Made 4 3-pointers at Rider for 13th career game with at least 4 treys

Kyonze Chavis
 • Set career high with 4 rebounds at Kent State

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense (39.3), 2nd in scoring defense (68.8), scoring margin (+5.3), 3-point field goal percentage defense (31.4), blocks (5.0) and defensive rebounds (27.5), and 3rd in turnover margin (+2.36).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks 40th in turnovers forced (16.64), 37th in blocks (5.0), 44th in field goal percentage defense (39.3), 84th in defensive rebounds (27.55) and 98th in turnover margin (+2.2).

Predictable Numbers
Since the start of the 2015-16 season, NSU is 49-7 when shooting better than the opposition and 3-53 when the other team has a better shooting percentage.

Good from 3
Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 293 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.