NORFOLK, Va. - The league-leading Tigers of Savannah State come to Joseph Echols Hall this Saturday when the Norfolk State men's basketball team begins the closing stretch of its season. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m.

The Spartans, currently fifth in the MEAC at 7-4 and a half game behind Hampton, have just five games left as they look to secure one of the three byes to the conference tournament. The red hot Tigers have a two-game lead for the regular season title at 10-1. Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T (8-3) and Hampton (8-4) sit ahead of NSU at the moment.

NSU closes out the kind portion of its schedule on Monday when the Spartans host South Carolina State beginning at 8 p.m. That contest will mark the end of an eight-game stretch in which NSU had to leave town just once.

Media Coverage
The games 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. The live video feed also carries the radio broadcast.

Series History
Savannah State won the first meeting this year on its home court, 104-99 in overtime, to give the Tigers their first win over NSU in the Division I era. The Spartans had won the previous 10 meetings dating back to a home-and-home in 2004-05, and they still lead the all-time series, 10-4. SSU's first three wins came in the late 1950's and early 1960's.

Norfolk State has won four in a row over South Carolina State and seven of the last eight to extend its lead in the all-time series to 23-18, the second-closest rivalry for NSU among all MEAC teams. The Bulldogs' lone win during that eight-game stretch came in the 2016 MEAC Tournament semifinals. The Spartans, however, defeated SCSU in the 2015 and '17 tournaments. NSU won the first meeting this year by a 78-54 score in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Scouting Savannah State
The Tigers are on a roll lately, having won nine in a row to improve to 13-13 overall after a lot of travel in the early part of the season. Savannah State plays at an extremely fast pace, averaging 12 made 3-pointers and 86.5 points per game. The Tigers also give up 94.5 points and allow teams to shoot 50 percent from the floor as well as 37 percent from 3-point range. Dexter McClanahan (15.9 points, 4.4 rebounds) leads the way on offense, with Alante Fenner second on the team at 13.8 points after a 46-point outing last Saturday. Zach Sellers (10.4 points, 3.8 assists) and Javaris Jenkins (10.4 points) also reach double figures. Although SSU does lose the rebounding battle by 10 boards per game, the Tigers also force 18 turnovers and are +4.4 in turnover margin. Austin Dasent is second on the team in 3-point makes at 52, averaging 8.6 points for a team that attempts 40 treys each time out.

Scouting South Carolina State
The Bulldogs upset North Carolina A&T on Saturday at home by a 90-85 score, improving to 5-6 in the MEAC and 9-17 overall. Donte Wright had 17 points, and he leads all players with 12.9 per game. He has also totaled 79 3-pointers on the season. Damani Applewhite tallies 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, and Patrell Rogers (10.7) and James Richardson (9.9) also contribute to an offense that scores 72 per game. Opponents, however, have connected on 49 percent overall and 37.5 percent from 3-point range while scoring 82 and grabbing nearly three more rebounds than S.C. State each game.

Last Time Out
A 30-0 run between both halves, part of a larger 58-9 run, propelled Norfolk State past Delaware State by a 93-58 score on Monday night at Joseph Echols Hall. In a game shown live on ESPNU, the Spartans made 14-of-28 from 3-point range to tie the school record for treys. NSU secured its biggest MEAC win ever, with three players accounting for all 14 made 3's. Kyle Williams had 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting, 5-of-10 from deep, and Derrik Jamerson Jr. added 19 points on 5-of-18 3-point shooting. Nic Thomas made 4-of-6 from long range for a 13-point night. Delaware State committed 20 turnovers, which led to a 30-5 advantage in points off turnovers for NSU. Artem Tavakalyan led the Hornets with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting with eight rebounds. DSU, still winless in the league, made 13-of-23 from 3-point range but just 39 percent overall.

Spartan Team Tidbits
 • Norfolk State secured its biggest MEAC win ever at 35 points with its 93-58 triumph over Delaware State. The previous best was a 32-point victory at Coppin State in 2015-16. The win over DSU came one game after the Spartans tied their worst MEAC loss ever at 30 points in a 82-52 setback at Hampton. NSU also fell by 30 at Bethune-Cookman in 1999-2000.

 • NSU tied the school record for 3-pointers with 14 against Delaware State. The program also had 14 3-pointers in three different games during the 2015-16 season. The Spartans also shot 17-of-19 from the free throw line against DSU, tied for the eighth-best percentage (89.5) in a single game in the Division I era.

 • Over the past nine games, Norfolk State is shooting 45.3 percent overall and 40.5 percent from 3-point range. In the last eight games, the opposition has shot 38.1 percent overall and 33.0 from deep.

 • Norfolk State is average 9.3 steals the last three games as opponents have turned it over 16.0 times during that stretch. In the past two games, NSU has had just 18 turnovers total.

 • The Spartans have averaged 9.8 fastbreak points the past nine games, and on the season they are outscoring teams 7.2 - 5.7 in fastbreak points per game.

 • Norfolk State is chasing a pair of school records. The Spartans are currently shooting 36.5 percent from 3-point range, with the school record of 35.7 set in 1998-99. With 205 total 3-pointers, they are also on pace to top the school record of 242 3-pointers set in 2015-16. The second-most in a season came last year when they sank 225.

 • Norfolk State has been a second half team. They have scored more points in the second half than the first in 19 of 26 games, with a 38.6-33.0 points per half discrepancy (+5.6) 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 19 of 26 games (38.8-34.8, +4.0).

 • The Spartans also have a +1.2 rebounding margin after the break compared to a -0.2 margin before, and shoot 43.8 percent in second halves compared to 41.1 in first halves. Opponents as well shoot better after halftime (43.4) than before (41.3).

 • Seven different players have led NSU in scoring this year: Mastadi Pitt and Nic Thomas (5), Derrik Jamerson Jr., Alex Long, Steven Whitley and Kyle Williams (4), and Preston Bungei (1).

 • NSU is 0-16 this year when opponents shoot at least 40 percent overall, and 3-15 when the opposition scores at least 70 points. The Spartans are also 1-14 when the opponent shoots better from the floor and 1-11 when the opposition shoots better from 3-point range.

 • In 18 of 26 games this year, the opposition has hit at least eight 3-pointers, including double digits in 14 games.

 • So far this year, Norfolk State has had more fouls than the other team in 18 out of 26 games. Opponents shot at least 20 free throws in 14 straight games from Dec. 16-Feb. 5, including a season-high 41 by Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 5.

 • The Spartans used five different starting lineups in the first six games and 10 different combinations altogether this season.

 • NSU ranks first in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (36.5), second in scoring defense (74.2), field goal percentage defense (42.4) and blocks (3.6), third in opponent rebounding (36.1), and fourth in steals (6.4), offensive rebounds (12.0), offensive rebound percentage (32.0) and 3-point field goals (7.9).

 • In conference games only, NSU ranks first in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense (39.1) and 3-point field goal percentage (39.7), second in scoring defense (71.4), blocks (3.6) and defensive rebounds (28.2), and third in rebounding (40.7), rebounding margin (+4.5) and defensive rebound percentage (70.8).

 • On a national level, NSU stands No. 32 in turnovers forced (15.50), No. 62 in offensive rebounds (11.96), No. 97 in rebounds (37.12), No. 98 in field goal percentage defense (42.4), No. 103 in 3-point field goal percentage (36.5), No. 133 in blocks (3.6), No. 152 in 3-point field goals (7.9), No. 156 in steals (6.4) and No. 172 in rebound margin (1.0).

Player Tidbits
Alex Long
 • Averaging 11.8 points and 1.1 blocks last 10 games, and 7.4 rebounds last 8 games
 • Tied career highs with 3 steals and 7-of-8 free throws against Delaware State and 36 minutes played at Hampton
 • Stands 9th in the MEAC in field goal % (51.9), 10th in blocks (0.8), 14th in rebounding (5.6), 15th in offensive rebounds (1.8) and 28th in scoring (10.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 9th in field goal % (53.2), 10th in rebounding (6.8), 11th in offensive rebounds (2.3), and 12th in blocks (0.8) and defensive rebounds (4.5)
 • Ranks 15th in NSU D-I season records in field goal % (51.9)
 • Stands 7th all-time at NSU in blocks (97)
 • Ranks No. 261 in NCAA career records in rebounds (443)

Kyle Williams
 • Averaging 12.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists the last 14 games; Shooting 36-of-76 overall and 23-of-50 from 3-point range the last 9 games
 • Also has 6 steals the last 3 games
 • Tied career highs with 5 3-points against Delaware State (5-of-10) and 39 minutes played at Hampton
 • Had 20 points against DSU, 4th career 20-point game
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (40.0) and 10th in 3-point field goals (2.2)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 6th in 3-point field goals (2.5) and 8th in 3-point field goal % (43.1)
 • Ranks No. 242 in the nation in 3-point field goals (2.16)
 • Stands 7th in NSU D-I season records in 3-point field goal % (40.0)
 • Ranks 10th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (37.9), 17th in 3-point field goals (96) and 18th in 3-point field goal attempts (253)

Preston Bungei
 • Averaging 8.5 rebounds the last 4 games
 • Made career-high 8-of-8 from the free throw line against Delaware State
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in in rebounding (5.9) and defensive rebounds (4.6), and 13th in blocks (0.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 7th in defensive rebounds (5.3) and 11th in rebounding (6.7)

Steven Whitley
 • Averaging 14.2 points on 33-of-72 shooting and 4.2 assists last 6 games
 • Tied career high with 9 assists vs. Delaware State
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in steals (1.7), 9th in assists (4.1), 10th in assist-turnover ratio (1.4), 14th in defensive rebounds (4.0), 15th in rebounding (5.3) and 20th in scoring (11.6)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 8th in assist-turnover ratio (1.7) and 9th in assists (4.4)
 • Stands No. 91 in the nation in steals (1.69) and No. 155 in assists (4.1)
 • Ranks 6th in NSU D-I season records in assist average (4.11) and 7th in assists (107)

Mastadi Pitt
 • Averaging 3.1 assists the last 10 games played

Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Hit 5-of-8 from 3-point range for 19 points against Delaware State, his 5th game this year with 5 or more 3-pointers and his second-most points in a game
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (40.5) and 7th in 3-point field goals (2.3)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 5th in 3-point field goal % (45.9) and 6th in 3-point field goals (2.5)
 • Stands No. 186 in the nation in 3-point field goals (2.31)
 • Ranks 6th in NSU D-I season records in 3-point field goal % (40.5) and 11th in 3-point field goals (60)
 • Ranks 6th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (40.5)

Nic Thomas
 • Averaging 15.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists last 7 games, Shooting 17-of-38 from 3-point range and 35-of-41 from the free throw line during that time
 • Set a new career high with 5 assists against Delaware State and tied career best with 4 3-pointers (4-of-6)
 • Had career-high 2 steals at Hampton
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in free throw % (81.7) and 13th in 3-point field goal % (35.9)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 4th in free throw % (85.1) and 10th in 3-point field goal % (42.3)
 • Stands No. 169 in the nation in free throw % (81.7)
 • Stands 8th in NSU D-I season records in free throw % (81.7)

Stavian Allen
 • Averaging 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds last 7 games

Dan Robinson
 • Has 7 blocks the last 5 games played
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in blocks (0.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 3rd in blocks (1.2)

Bryan Gellineau
 • Averaging 3.3 rebounds last 4 games

Best in the Conference
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU is 83-24 in regular season conference play (44-9 at home, 39-15 on the road), just ahead of North Carolina Central (82-25) during that time for the best record in the league. Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 92-28, while the Eagles are 91-27 during that time. NSU also owns a 129-102 overall record since the start of the 2011-12 season, second in the conference to North Carolina Central (142-79).

Series Edge
NSU has a winning record against every school in the MEAC, with several of those series covering a lot of ground in the Division II era. The Spartans' closest rivals over the years have been North Carolina A&T (25-21) and South Carolina State (23-18).

Conference Streak
Last year, NSU secured its 19th straight season with a .500 or better conference record in its Division I era. In fact, in Norfolk State's 62 seasons in either the EIAC, CIAA or the MEAC, the program has had just one losing conference record (9-10 in the CIAA in 1990-91).

NSU is tied with Wisconsin for eighth in the nation for the longest streak of .500-or-better conference records in a row in D-I (See table page 6). NSU has posted 24 straight .500 or better conference records, dating back to that 1990-91 campaign.

Every other team in the MEAC has had at least one losing conference record since 2011-12.