NORFOLK, Va. - Much will be decided with the second edition this year of the Battle of the Bay as the last game of the regular season arrives on Thursday night at Joseph Echols Hall. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. against NSU's biggest rival. The Spartans have won five in a row and nine of their past 10. They will also celebrate Senior Night and recognize five of the program's departing players.

Both Norfolk State and Hampton are tied for first in the MEAC with three other teams at 11-4. Bethune-Cookman (at Florida A&M), North Carolina A&T (at North Carolina Central) and Savannah State (at South Carolina State) also sit in the five-way tie for first. The top three seeds will receive byes to the conference tournament.

NSU could finish as high as first or as low as fifth in this year's standings. The Spartans own the stand-alone tiebreaker with Bethune-Cookman. They split the season series with Savannah State and would do the same with a win over Hampton. N.C. A&T owns the tiebreaker over NSU.

Media Coverage
The game 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
Hampton won the first meeting this year at the HU Convocation Center, 82-52. It marked NSU's worst defeat in the series since the second-ever meeting in 1959-60. The Spartans will be looking for revenge and continue a streak in which the home team has won each of the past five games. The Pirates last swept the season series in 2013-14. The Spartans do lead the all-time series, 85-47, although HU leads in the teams' Division I history, 25-22.

Scouting Hampton
The Pirates have won seven in a row to improve to 16-14 overall and 11-4 in the league. They score 80 per game, with Jermaine Marrow (20.2 points, 5.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds) leading the way. Kalin Fisher (12.6 points) and Malique Trent-Street (12.5) also score in double figures, and Greg Heckstall (8.8 points, 6.2 rebounds) and Akim Mitchell (8.0 points) figure into the action as well. They lead the way for a team that shoots 45 percent from the floor and 78 percent from the free throw line. Like NSU, Hampton holds the rebounding edge for the season (+2.1) but the Pirates turn it over on average just 13.3 times per game.

Last Time Out
Norfolk State got a pair of double doubles and held off Howard late in the game in a 79-74 win on Monday night at Burr Gymnasium. Howard got a combined 53 points from R.J. Cole and Charles Williams, although the Bison made just 31 percent overall as a team. Alex Long (16 points, 15 rebounds) and Preston Bungei (14 points, 10 rebounds) led the way for NSU, which outscored the Bison 40-12 in points in the paint. Howard led by three in the second half before Norfolk State took the lead back. The Bison were within four with less than three minutes to go and within two in the last minute. They missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with 11 seconds left as NSU held on for the win. Norfolk State shot 46 percent overall.

Spartan Team Tidbits
 • Over the past 13 games, Norfolk State is shooting 45.3 percent overall and 37.2 percent from 3-point range, averaging 78.0 points per game. In the last 12 games, the opposition has shot 37.0 percent overall and 30.8 from deep.

 • The Spartans have tallied 34.4 points in the paint, 19.0 points off turnovers and 15.4 second-chance points the past five games.

 • NSU is +69 on the glass the last five games.

 • Norfolk State is chasing a pair of school records. The Spartans are currently shooting 35.6 percent from 3-point range, with the school record of 35.7 set in 1998-99. With 231 total 3-pointers, they are also on pace to top the school record of 242 3-pointers set in 2015-16.

 • Norfolk State has been a second half team. They have scored more points in the second half than the first in 23 of 30 games, with a 39.7-32.9 points per half discrepancy (+6.8) 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 22 of 30 games (38.4-34.6, +3.8).

 • The Spartans also have a +2.5 rebounding margin after the break compared to a +0.5 margin before. They also shoot 45.0 percent in second halves compared to 40.9 in first halves, including a 37.3-33.9 discrepancy in 3-point shooting.

 • Seven different players have led NSU in scoring this year: Derrik Jamerson Jr. (6), Alex Long, Mastadi Pitt and Nic Thomas (5), Steven Whitley and Kyle Williams (4), and Preston Bungei (2).

 • NSU is 1-16 this year when opponents shoot at least 40 percent overall, and 5-15 when the opposition scores at least 70 points. Maryland Eastern Shore was the first team this year to hit at least 40 percent against NSU but still not win. The Spartans are also 1-14 when the opponent shoots better from the floor and 3-11 when the opposition shoots better from 3-point range.

 • In 21 of 30 games this year, the opposition has hit at least eight 3-pointers, including double digits in 16 games.

 • So far this year, Norfolk State has had more fouls than the other team in 21 out of 30 games. Opponents have shot at least 20 free throws in 17 of the last 20 games.

 • The Spartans used five different starting lineups in the first six games and 11 different combinations altogether this season.

 • NSU ranks first in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage (35.6) and field goal percentage defense (41.3), second in scoring defense (73.5), blocks (3.6) and offensive rebound percentage (33.6), and third in opponent rebounding (35.8), rebounding margin (+3.0), defensive rebounds (26.2).

 • In conference games only, NSU ranks first in the MEAC in scoring defense (70.7), field goal percentage defense (37.9), 3-point field goal percentage (37.1), rebounding (43.1), rebounding margin (+7.5), defensive rebound percentage (71.5) and offensive rebound percentage (36.4), second in defensive rebounds (29.4), and third in scoring margin (+6.1) and offensive rebounds (13.7).

 • On a national level, NSU stands No. 23 in offensive rebounds (12.60), No. 35 in rebounds (38.77), No. 43 in turnovers forced (15.03), No. 43 in field goal percentage defense (41.3), No. 80 in rebound margin (3.0), No. 106 in defensive rebounds (26.17), No. 139 in blocks (3.6), and No. 142 in 3-point field goal percentage (35.6).

Player Tidbits
Alex Long
 • Averaging 7.6 rebounds last 12 games
 • Tied career high with 4 assists at Howard in career-best 38 minutes; Had 16 points and 15 rebounds for 3rd double-double of season, 5th of career, and his 2nd most rebounds in a game ever
 • Stands 9th in the MEAC in field goal % (51.6), 11th in blocks (0.9), 14th in rebounding (5.9) and offensive rebounds (1.8) and 26th in scoring (10.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 8th in rebounding (7.1), 10th in field goal % (52.2), 11th in offensive rebounds (2.2) and defensive rebounds (4.9) and 13th in blocks (0.9)
 • Ranks 15th in NSU D-I season records in field goal % (51.6)
 • Stands 6th all-time at NSU in blocks (101)
 • Ranks No. 247 in NCAA career records in rebounds (475)

Kyle Williams
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (38.5) and 11th in 3-point field goals (2.0)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 11th in 3-point field goal % (39.7) and 14th in 3-point field goals (2.1)
 • Stands 14th in NSU D-I season records in 3-point field goal % (38.5)
 • Ranks 11th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (37.2), 15th in 3-point field goals (99) and 17th in 3-point field goal attempts (266)

Preston Bungei
 • Averaging 7.8 rebounds the last 8 games and 11.7 points on 30-of-57 shooting the last 7 games
 • 16 of his last 18 from the free throw line
 • Had 3rd career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds at Howard
 • Tied career high by shooting 8-of-12 against Maryland Eastern Shore
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in in rebounding (6.1) and defensive rebounds (4.5) and 14th in blocks (0.7)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 9th in defensive rebounds (5.0) and 11th in rebounding (6.8)

Steven Whitley
 • Averaging 13.0 points last 10 games, and 8.2 assists and 7.4 rebounds last 5 games
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in steals (1.6), 7th in assist-turnover ratio (1.5), 6th in assists (4.6), 13th in defensive rebounds (4.4), 15th in rebounding (5.7) and 20th in scoring (11.5)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 5th in assist-turnover ratio (1.8) and 6th in assists (5.3)
 • Stands No. 103 in the nation in assists (4.6) No. 130 in steals (1.57) and No. 180 in double doubles (5)
 • Ranks 4th in NSU D-I season records in assist average (4.63) and 5th in assists (139)

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 15th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (35.0)

Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Averaging 12.0 points on 21-of-40 shooting, 15-of-32 from deep, last 5 games
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (40.7) and 6th in 3-point field goals (2.3)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 3rd in 3-point field goal % (44.7) and 5th in 3-point field goals (2.5)
 • Stands No. 183 in the nation in 3-point field goals (2.33)
 • Ranks 4th in NSU D-I season records and 5th in overall records in 3-point field goals (70), 5th and 13th in 3-point field goal % (40.7) and 10th and 13th in 3-point field goal attempts (172)
 • Ranks 6th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (40.7)

Nic Thomas
 • Averaging 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists last 11 games, Shooting 21-of-55 from 3-point range and 41-of-49 from the free throw line during that time
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC in free throw % (81.1)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 6th in free throw % (83.6) and 13th in 3-point field goal % (37.7)
 • Stands No. 173 in the nation in free throw % (81.1)
 • Stands 8th in NSU D-I season records in free throw % (81.1)

Stavian Allen
 • Averaging 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds last 11 games

Dan Robinson
 • Had career-high 10 points at Howard, hitting career-best 4-of-5 from the free throw line
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in blocks (0.8)

Bryan Gellineau
 • Averaging 9.3 points on 15-of-23 shooting last 4 games and 3.3 rebounds last 8 games

Conference Streak
This year, NSU secured its 20th straight season with a .500 or better conference record in its Division I era. In fact, in Norfolk State's 63 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 8). 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.

Conference Standings
Last season, the Spartans continued their streak of finishing no worse than tied for third each of the last six years, the only program in the league to do so. In fact, NSU is just one of 14 schools in the nation to finish in the top 3 in the league standings each of the last six years (see table page 8).

NSU has also finished fourth or better in the MEAC in 10 of the last 11 seasons.