NORFOLK, Va. - Two squads looking to keep pace with the teams at the top of the MEAC standings face off on Saturday when the Norfolk State men's basketball team hosts Morgan State beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

Winners of three of their last four, NSU is currently tied for fifth and can stay within two games in the loss column of the first-place teams in the league. MSU is looking to get back above .500 after dropping four of its last five.

Then, after the third of three straight home games, the Spartans will have to turn around and fly to the state of Florida to take on Bethune-Cookman on Monday night at 7:30 p.m.

Media Coverage
The games against Morgan State and Bethune-Cookman will be broadcast live on Famous 1310 AM as well as Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon on the call. Live audio is available through www.wgh1310.com as well as hot91.nsu.edu:8000/128. Both feeds are available on smartphones through the Famous 1310 website or through www.TuneIn.com or the TuneIn Radio App (search for "WNSB") for Hot 91.1.

Fans can also follow along with the live stats and the live video feed against Morgan State. The live video feed also carries the radio broadcast. Bethune-Cookman will have live stats and live video available.

Series History
Norfolk State has a commanding lead in the all-time series against Morgan State, 35-15. The Bears have won the last two meetings, including the only one last year at their place, 58-56. MSU has won three of the past four after the Spartans had taken eight of the previous nine. The home team has held serve each of the last five games.

Norfolk State leads the all-time series 20-13, but it's been back and forth lately. Both teams won at home last year, and NSU won the first meeting this year last Saturday, 71-70. The Spartans won the only meeting in each of the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, and the Wildcats were victorious in 2015-16 in the only meeting that year as well. The series began in 1964-65. The Spartans won that first game as well as at the beginning of the following season. Aside from those two contests, though, the teams have only played since NSU moved to the MEAC in the late 1990's.

Scouting Morgan State
The Bears fell at home by 15 to South Carolina State last Monday, dropping Morgan State to 8-13 overall and 4-4 in the MEAC. That stretch came after they won the first three league games, including handing Savannah State its only league loss so far this year. After missing the first part of the season, Tiwian Kendley has come back with a vengeance, averaging 26.6 points over 11 games. Phillip Carr tallied 14.3 points and 9.0 rebounds, with the next highest scorer at 8.7 points in Martez Cameron. Morgan State does not shoot particularly well (40 percent overall, 33 percent from 3-point range), although they do get to the free throw line on average almost 24 times per game. The Bears do hold slight edges on the glass and in the turnover department, tallying 7.2 steals. Thanks in part to a non-conference schedule that included all road games against Division I opponents, Morgan State allows teams to shoot 45 percent overall and 36 percent from deep.

Scouting Bethune-Cookman
The Wildcats fell to NSU and Hampton last weekend to fall to 5-2 in the MEAC, into a tie for third place, as well as 11-11 overall. Five players score in double figures on an offense that averages 78 per game. Brandon Tabb (17.9 points, 68 total 3-pointers) and Isaiah Bailey (14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists) lead the way, while Malik Maitland (10.5 points, 4.7 assists) directs traffic. Thanks in part to Tabb, B-CU averages 7.4 3-pointers per game. The Wildcats also have the two of the three best rebounders in the league. Soufiyane Diakite grabs a league-best 9.4 boards to go along with 10.0 points, and Shawntrez Davis adds 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds. B-CU is +2.8 on the glass each time out to go along with 3.7 blocks per game. Opponents also average 79 per game while forcing the Wildcats into 16 turnovers.

Last Time Out
Nic Thomas scored 20 points, including 12-of-12 from the free throw line, and NSU used a big advantage on the boards to earn an 80-71 win over Florida A&M on Monday night at Joseph Echols Hall. The Spartans led by eight at the half and were up the entire second half. They outrebounded the Rattlers 44-25, holding them to just 35.5 percent shooting while hitting 48 percent themselves. NSU finished the night 28-of-37 from the free throw line. FAMU could not fully take advantage of its +10 turnover differential (15 for NSU, five for FAMU) to get the win, although the Rattlers did outscore the Spartans 17-0 in points off turnovers. Steven Whitley added 17 points and seven rebounds for NSU, while Justin Ravenel led FAMU with 21 points thanks in part to 5-of-8 3-point shooting.

Spartan Team Tidbits
 • Over the past five games, Norfolk State is shooting 46.8 percent overall and 39.3 percent from 3-point range. In the last four games, the opposition has shot 36.5 percent overall and 30.9 from deep.

 • The Spartans have averaged 9.6 fastbreak points the past five games, 30.6 points in the paint the last seven games, and 12.4 second-chance points the last nine games.

 • The win over Bethune-Cookman marked the first time this year the Spartans won a game despite shooting worse than the opponent and allowing at least 70 points. NSU is 0-15 this year when opponents shoot at least 40 percent overall, and 2-14 when the opposition scores at least 70 points. The Spartans are also 1-13 when the opponent shoots better from the floor and 0-10 when the opposition shoots better from 3-point range.

 • The win over B-CU marked the first last-second win by the Spartans since Brandon Wheeless sank a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left against Savannah State at home on Dec. 3, 2011 in a 60-58 win.

 • Norfolk State has held the rebounding edge each of the last eight games and is +66 on the glass during that time.

 • In 16 of 22 games this year, the opposition has hit at least eight 3-pointers, including double digits in 13 games.

 • So far this year, Norfolk State has had more fouls than the other team in 16 out of 22 games. Opponents have shot at least 20 free throws each of the last 12 games.

 • The Spartans hit 58.2 percent overall against Savannah State, one of the top 15 best shooting percentages in a game in their Division I history. The Spartans also piled up 22 assists (tied for eighth most in D-I history) on 39 field goals (tied for sixth most).

 • They scored 99 in the overtime loss at Savannah State, the most points scored in a setback in 11 years since a 104-99 loss against North Carolina A&T on Feb. 24, 2007.

 • Norfolk State has been a second half team. They have scored more points in the second half than the first in 17 of 22 games, with a 38.5-32.4 points per half discrepancy (+6.1) from the second to the first. Opponents, as well, have scored the same amount or more points in the second half compared to the first half in 16 of 22 games (38.8-35.3, +3.5).

 • The Spartans also have a +2.0 rebounding margin after the break compared to a -0.1 margin before.

 • Six different players have led NSU in scoring this year: Mastadi Pitt (5), Derrik Jamerson Jr., Alex Long and Nic Thomas (4), Kyle Williams (3), and Steven Whitley (2).

 • The Spartans used five different starting lineups in the first six games and nine different combinations altogether this season.

 • NSU ranks tied for first in the MEAC in blocks (3.7), second in defensive rebound percentage (71.1), third in scoring defense (74.8), 3-point field goal percentage (35.6), opponent rebounding (35.1), and rebounding margin (+2.0), and fourth in field goal percentage defense (42.9), offensive rebounds (12.2), offensive rebound percentage (32.8) and 3-point field goals (7.7).

 • On a national level, NSU stands No. 43 in turnovers forced (15.50), No. 54 in offensive rebounds (12.18), No. 109 in rebounds (37.09), No. 121 in blocks (3.7), No. 133 in rebound margin (+2.0), No. 136 in field goal percentage defense (42.9), No. 151 in 3-point field goal percentage (35.6), and No. 168 in 3-point field goals (7.7).

Player Tidbits
Alex Long
 • Averaging 13.2 points on 32-of-55 shooting with 1.2 blocks last 6 games, and 8.3 rebounds last 4 games
 • Grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds against Bethune-Cookman, the most by an NSU player since Kyle O'Quinn had 18 on Feb. 11, 2012; Also had 8 offensive boards, the most since RaShid Gaston had 11 on March 2, 2015 at Howard
 • Had 2nd 20-point game of career with 20 at Savannah State
 • Stands 6th in the MEAC in field goal % (54.4), 11th in blocks (0.8), 13th in offensive rebounds (1.8), 16th in rebounding (5.4) and 26th in scoring (11.0)
 • Ranks 10th in NSU D-I season records in field goal % (55.4)
 • Stands 7th all-time at NSU in blocks (93)
 • Ranks No. 274 in NCAA career records in rebounds (417)

Kyle Williams
 • Averaging 12.6 points on 22-of-43 shooting, 12-of-26 from 3-point range, last 5 games, and 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists last 4 games
 • Has made a 3-pointer in 10 straight games
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (38.7) and 10th in 3-point field goals (2.0)
 • Stands 13th in NSU D-I season records in 3-point field goal % (38.7)
 • Ranks 11th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (37.1) and 19th in 3-point field goals (85)

Preston Bungei
 • Ranks 9th in the MEAC in blocks (0.8), 14th in defensive rebounds (4.2) and 15th in rebounding (5.5)

Steven Whitley
 • Averaging 12.8 points on 19-of-37 shooting last 4 games, 5-of-7 from 3-point range
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in steals (1.8), 9th in assists (3.9), 11th in assist-turnover ratio (1.3), 13th in rebounding (5.5) 15th in defensive rebounds (4.1) and 25th in scoring (11.1)
 • Stands No. 78 in the nation in steals (1.77), No. 189 in assists (3.9) and No. 228 in double doubles (3)
 • Ranks 9th in NSU D-I season records in assist average (3.86)

Mastadi Pitt
 • Tied career high with 6 assists against Bethune-Cookman
 • Averaging 3.1 assists the last 9 games played
 • Ranks 14th in the MEAC in free throw % (75.0)

Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Averaging 9.9 points last 8 games on 23-of-50 3-point shooting; Also tallying 5.4 rebounds last 5 games
 • Grabbed career-high 8 rebounds against Florida A&M
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (39.4) and 8th in 3-point field goals (2.3)
 • Stands No. 202 in the nation in 3-point field goals (2.27)
 • Ranks 9th in NSU D-I season records in 3-point field goal % (39.4)

Nic Thomas
 • Averaging 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists last 3 games; Shot 22-of-25 from the free throw line during that time
 • Made 12-of-12 from the free throw line against Florida A&M, one of just three players in the NSU D-I era to have that many makes without a miss; Had 2nd 20-point game of season with 20 exactly
 • Tied career high with 3 assists vs. Florida A&M
 • Tallied career-highs of 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting with 6 rebounds at Savannah State; Tied career best with 3 3-pointers
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC and No. 158 in the nation in free throw % (81.8)
 • Stands 8th in NSU D-I season records in free throw % (81.8)

Stavian Allen
 • Averaging 7.7 points on 9-of-13 shooting and 4.3 rebounds last 3 games
 • Had career highs of 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting at Savannah State while tying career best with 2 3-pointers

Dan Robinson
 • Grabbed season-best 8 rebounds against Florida A&M
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in blocks (0.8)

Good from 3
Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 271 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.

Ahead at the Half
The Spartans are 96-23 (80.7 winning percentage) since the start of the 2011-12 season when leading or tied at the half.