EL PASO, Texas - Norfolk State heads out West before enjoying the Christmas break when the Spartan men's basketball teams competes in the 2018 WestStar Bank Sun Bowl Invitational. It will mark NSU's third appearance in the tournament.
NSU takes on host UTEP on Friday at 9 p.m. EST at the Don Haskins Center, followed by either Wyoming or East Tennessee State on Saturday at 7 or 9 p.m. EST.
Media Coverage
The contest against UTEP will be shown live on MinerTV, available through the
Conference USA website. Fans can also follow along with the
live stats for both games.
Series History
NSU and UTEP have met twice, both times in the Sun Bowl Invitational. The Spartans upset the Miners in their last meeting, 85-76 in 2015. At the 2009 tournament, UTEP easily won by a 93-56 margin. The Spartans are 1-3 all-time in the Sun Bowl Invitational, including losses to UC Irvine in 2015 and Niagara in 2009.
NSU has never played East Tennessee State. The Spartans have faced Wyoming twice, both of those games losses on the road. NSU fell in overtime, 72-65, during its inaugural season in Division I in 1997-98. The Spartans also made a trek out West early in the 2003-04 season, an 84-42 setback to the Cowboys.
Scouting UTEP
The Miners are coming off a 68-56 win over UC Riverside on Sunday that pushed their record to 4-5 on the year. After a pair of blowout losses, the Miners have fallen by single digits to New Mexico, New Mexico State and Marquette with a 30-point win over Northwestern State in there as well.
Leading scorer Evan Gilyard missed the last game for UTEP, as his 18.0 points lead the way for the Miners. He also shoots better than 41 percent from deep for a team that hits 36 percent from 3-point range and 45 percent overall. Along with Gilyard, Efe Odigie helps carry the offense with 15.7 points and 9.0 rebounds.
Jordan Lathon (10.1 points) and Paul Thomas (9.4 points) also make significant contributions while starting every game. The Miners own the edge on the glass (+2.0) but they only score 69 points per game thanks in part to nearly 17 turnovers each time out.
Scouting Wyoming
The Cowboys sit just 3-7 on the year, although five of the seven losses were by 10 points or less. Included in there was a loss to Niagara, NSU's last non-conference opponent of the year later this month. Wyoming did defeat South Carolina, another common opponent with the Spartans, by a 73-64 score on Dec. 5.
The Cowboys have given up nearly 79 points per game, and they are -6.0 on the glass each time out. They only turn the ball over 12 times per game while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range and 73 percent from the charity stripe.
Justin James carries the team to the tune of 24.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Hunter Maldonado (13.8 points, 6.8 rebounds) and Jake Hendricks (13.1 points) also help out, while Hunter Thompson is next at 12.2 points after missing several games earlier this year. Hendricks has shot 44 percent from deep, averaging 3.2 treys per game.
Scouting East Tennessee State
The Buccaneers carry an 8-4 record into the weekend, which includes close losses to Georgia State and Creighton as well as wins over Winthrop, Sam Houston State, North Dakota State and Georgia Southern. They most recently fell to Illinois on the road, 73-55, last Saturday.
ETSU comes into the Sun Bowl Invitational averaging 78 points per game while giving up only 66. Teams have connected on just 41 percent overall and 31 percent from deep, while the Buccaneers have hit 47 percent from the field and 36 percent from long range. ETSU is also an astronomical +13.8 on the boards each time out.
Jeromy Rodriguez is a big part of that, averaging 11.9 rebounds with 11.3 points per game. The team's leading scorer is only at 12.0, but Tray Boyd and Patrick Good (11.4 points) combine to make more than five 3-pointers per game. The duo of Isaiah Tisdale (9.7 points) and Mladen Armus (8.8 points, 8.0 rebounds) combine to shoot slightly better than 50 percent.
Last Time Out
Loyola Chicago shot 65 percent in the first half on the way to a 31-point halftime lead, and it held up exactly at that as the Ramblers defeated NSU 80-49 on Sunday afternoon in the Windy City. Loyola made 68 percent overall and 13-of-22 from 3-point range while holding the Spartans to 35 percent shooting, including 22 in the first half.
NSU played Loyola even in the second half, as
Nic Thomas had all 18 of his points after the intermission, when Norfolk State trailed 46-15. He shot 4-of-9 from deep with a career-high four steals to lead the way. NSU did force 17 turnovers while sinking 7-of-19 from 3-point range.
The Ramblers had four players in double figures, led by Clayton Custer's 21 points on 7-of-9 3-point shooting. Bruno Skokna (13 points, six boards), Cooper Kaifes (12 points, 4-of-6 from deep) and Cameron Krutwig (11 points, nine boards) all played a big part in the win as well.
Season Trends
• NSU is averaging 12.0 fastbreak points, 18.8 free throws, 5.2 blocks and 7.2 steals the last 6 games. Included in there was a season-high 12 steals at Loyola.
• In the last four games alone, the Spartans are hitting 79.6 percent (74-of-93) from the free throw line. Over just the past two, they are shooting 14-of-37 from deep (37.8 percent).
• NSU is outscoring teams 18.4 - 14.1 in points off turnovers, 30.5 - 24.8 in points in the paint, and 10.4 - 7.7 in fastbreak points on the year.
• In 8 of the first 12 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 9 of 12 games as well.
• In 8 of the first 12 games, the Spartans have scored more points in the second half than the first (+6.5). They also shoot better in the second half (44.5 - 39.9, as do opponents (43.5 - 39.1).
• The Spartans are currently 0-7 when allowing at least 40 percent shooting and 1-8 when allowing at least 60 points.
Player Facts
Nic Thomas
• Ranks 4th in the MEAC in scoring (14.9), 5th in 3-point field goals per game (2.7) and free throw % (81.3), and 7th in 3-point field goal % (39.5)
• Stands No. 99 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (39.5), No. 111 in 3-point field goals per game (2.67) and No. 172 in free throw % (81.3)
• Averaging 18.2 points and 2.4 assists and shooting 26-of-31 from the foul line last 5 games
• Had career-high 4 steals at Loyola; Made 4 3-pointers for 7th time in his career and 5th time this year
• Tied career high with 5 assists at Rider
Steven Whitley
• Ranks 5th in the MEAC in steals (1.5), 12th in assists (2.9), 13th in free throw percentage (61.5) and 15th in defensive rebounds (3.6)
• Stands No. 219 in the nation in steals (1.55)
• Ranks 6th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.23)
• In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 175 in assists (223) and No. 481 in rebounds (287)
• Averaging 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals last 7 games
Jordan Butler
• Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.9), 6th in free throw % (76.9) 11th in rebounds (5.4), 12th in defensive rebounds (3.8) and 14th in offensive rebounds (1.7)
• Stands No. 56 in the nation in blocks (1.92)
• Second all-time at NSU in blocks (188)
• In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 9th in blocks (188), No. 24 in block average (1.74), No. 59 in rebounds (586) and No. 105 in games played (108)
• Tallied season-high 10 rebounds at Rider, 13th career double-digit rebounding game
Alex Long
• Ranks 5th in the MEAC in blocks (1.1), 8th in field goal % (53.9) and 25th in scoring (9.5)
• Stands No. 219 in the nation in blocks (1.08)
• Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (116) and 18th in games played (111)
• In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 44 in blocks (116), No. 50 in games played (111) and No. 87 in rebounds (540)
• Tied career high with 4 assists at Loyola
• Shooting 22-of-35 (62.9%) last 4 games
Mastadi Pitt
• Ranks 5th in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (2.4) and 9th in assists (3.0)
• Stands No. 97 in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (2.36)
• Had at least 3 assists in 10 of 11 games played
Derrik Jamerson Jr.
• Ranks 9th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (38.9) and 13th in 3-point field goals per game (1.8)
• Ranks 7th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (39.7), 18th in 3-point field goals (96) and 19th in 3-point field goal attempts (242)
• In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 365 in 3-pointers (96)
• Averaging 10.0 points last 2 games on 7-of-15 shooting, 6-of-13 from deep
• Made 4 3-pointers at Rider for 13th career game with at least 4 treys
Armani Branch
• Averaging 6.5 points last 2 games on 4-of-7 shooting
Chris Ford
• Has 6 points and 5 rebounds the last 3 games
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense (41.1), 2nd in scoring defense (69.8), scoring margin (+2.2) and blocks (4.7), and 3rd in turnover margin (+2.42) and defensive rebound percentage (71.7).
National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks 40th in turnovers forced (16.67), 54th in blocks (4.7), 88th in turnover margin (+2.3) and 95th in field goal percentage defense (41.1).
Winning the State
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU has the fourth-most wins (138) among the 14 Division I schools in the state of Virginia. The Spartans trail Virginia (197), VCU (184) and Old Dominion (148).
