NORFOLK, Va. - For just the first of two times this year, NSU will split a MEAC weekend at home and on the road. Up first, the Spartans travel to Coppin State for a Saturday afternoon contest from the Physical Education Complex. Tip-off time is set for 4 p.m.

They will then return home to host Bethune-Cookman on Monday night at 8 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall. The contest against CSU, however, begins a stretch in which the Spartans play six of the next eight games on the road.

Media Coverage
The games 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").

Fans can also follow along with Coppin State's live stats. CSU will have live video available as well.

Live stats will be available for Monday's game against Bethune-Cookman. The game will also be broadcast live through FloHoops.

Series History
The Spartans own a 10-game win streak over Coppin State, with its last win in the series coming during the 2011-12 season. NSU has also won nine in a row at CSU, as the Spartans last fell to the Eagles on their home court during the 2006-07 season.

In addition to the 10-game win streak, NSU has won 16 of the past 18 games dating back to the 2008-09 season. The two programs met three times in the mid-1980's, all NSU wins, before resuming the series in the late 1990's when the Spartans joined the MEAC.

NSU won both meetings with Bethune-Cookman last year by a combined five points, pushing the Spartans' lead in the all-time series to 21-13. The last five meetings have all been decided by 10 points or less.

The two teams met twice in the mid-1960's before resuming the series when NSU joined the MEAC in the late 1990's.

Scouting Coppin State
The Eagles lost all 15 non-conference games, all but two away from home, before winning their first two MEAC games last weekend against Savannah State and at Delaware State. NSU and CSU are the only 2-0 teams in the league and two of just four who have yet to lose a conference game.

Partly as a result of the difficult early schedule, CSU comes into the weekend averaging just 58 points per game. The Eagles shoot just 36 percent from the field, 25 percent from deep, and turn the ball over 16.5 times per game. Opponents average 78.5 points and shoot 45 percent overall, 36 percent from beyond the arc.

On the season, Dejuan Clayton leads the way with 11.9 points per game after scoring exactly 23 in both of CSU's MEAC wins. Lamar Morgan is second on the team at 10.1 points, while no other player is at or above 7 points per game.

Scouting Bethune-Cookman
Bethune-Cookman lost its MEAC opener at North Carolina Central last Saturday, as the Wildcats sit 5-10 overall and 0-1 in the league heading into their game Saturday at Howard. B-CU scores 71 per game while giving up 73, as five of the team's losses were by single digits.

They are a team that shoot 43 percent overall, thanks in part to Cletrell Pope's 61 percent shooting. He averages 11.1 points and 11.6 rebounds, the latter a mark that ranks in the top 10 in the nation. Malik Maitland leads the team in scoring at 12.1 points, with Mark Gordon fourth on the team at 9.7.

Preseason All-MEAC players Shawntrez Davis (7.9 points) and Soufiyane Diakite (7.0 points, 6.4 rebounds) also add to the offense. They also help the Wildcats to a +2.9 margin on the glass. Although they give the ball up 15 times a game, the Wildcats force that many as well.

Last Time Out
NSU shot 49 percent overall and led for the entire second half in a 72-62 win over Florida A&M at home on Monday night. The Spartans used a run late in the first half to erase an eight-point FAMU lead and held the Rattlers back the rest of the way.

Derrik Jamerson Jr. scored 21 points for the second straight game, shooting 8-of-11 overall and 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Armani Branch had a season-high 13 points, and Jordan Butler finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

FAMU hit 41 percent for the game but 7-of-15 from 3-point range, with D.J. Jones leading the Rattlers with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. NSU made 17-of-22 from the foul line and 7-of-19 from deep as well.

Season Trends
 • In the last 7 games alone, the Spartans are hitting 61-of-146 from deep (41.8 percent). They are also 79-of-171 (46.2 percent) overall and 40-of-52 (76.9 percent) from the free throw line the last 3 games.

 • NSU is outscoring teams 16.5 - 15.1 in points off turnovers, 28.4 - 25.5 in points in the paint, and 9.2 - 7.7 in fastbreak points on the year.

 • NSU has had more fouls than the other team in 12 of 17 games but not the last two.

 • The Spartans have had more turnovers than the other team in each of the last four games.

 • In 12 of the first 17 games, the Spartans have scored more points in the second half than the first (+6.5). They also shoot better in the second half (45.2 - 41.1), as do opponents (43.5 - 39.3). NSU is also -2.1 on the glass in the first half and +0.6 in the second, and -0.1 in turnover margin in the first compared to +0.8 in the second.

 • The Spartans are currently 1-9 when allowing at least 40 percent shooting and 1-8 when allowing at least 65 points.

Player Facts
Nic Thomas
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.5), 6th in scoring (13.9), 10th in 3-point field goal % (37.4) and 12th in free throw % (72.7)
 • Stands No. 113 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (37.4) and No. 143 in 3-point field goals per game (2.50)
 • Stands 16th all-time at NSU in free throw % (76.6) and 20th in 3-point field goal attempts (222)
 • Averaging 2.8 assists last 8 games played
 • Made 4 3-pointers against Delaware State for 8th time in his career and 6th time this year

Steven Whitley
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in steals (1.3), 8th in assists (3.0), 9th in defensive rebounds (4.1) and assist-turnover ratio (1.0) and 30th in scoring (9.1)
 • Ranks 8th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.15) and 20th in assists (199)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 172 in assists (236) and No. 457 in rebounds (310)
 • Averaging 11.3 points on 14-of-22 shooting, 3-of-5 from deep, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists last 3 games

Jordan Butler
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.9), 6th in free throw % (80.3), 7th in defensive rebounds (4.5), 8th in rebounds (6.3), 12th in offensive rebounds (1.9) and 29th in scoring (9.1)
 • Stands No. 55 in the nation in blocks (1.87) and No. 167 in free throw % (80.3)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (193) and 19th in games played (111)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 8th in blocks (193), No. 28 in block average (1.74), No. 54 in rebounds (616) and No. 123 in games played (111)
 • Named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week on Jan. 8 and Nov. 13
 • Had 1st double-double of season and 7th of career with 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. Florida A&M; 15th career double-digit rebounding game
 • Tallied season-high 11 rebounds vs. Delaware State
 • Has 30 rebounds last 3 games and 13-of-14 from the free throw line last 2 games

Alex Long
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in blocks (1.1) and 8th in field goal % (48.8)
 • Stands No. 212 in the nation in double-doubles (2) and No. 231 in blocks (1.06)
 • Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (121) and 10th in games played (116)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 35 in games played (116), No. 45 in blocks (121) and No. 85 in rebounds (563)
 • Finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Delaware State for 2nd double-double this year and 7th in his career

Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (45.9), 7th in 3-point field goals per game (2.3), 9th in field goal % (48.7) and 27th in scoring (9.6)
 • Stands No. 205 in the nation in 3-point field goals per game (2.29)
 • Ranks 5th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (41.8), 11th in 3-point field goals (114) and 16th in 3-point field goal attempts (273)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 47th in 3-point field goal % (41.8) and No. 301 in 3-pointers (114)
 • Averaging 16.0 points last 4 games on 22-of-38 shooting, 15-of-26 from deep
 • Had season-high 21 points against Florida A&M for 4th career 20-point game
 • Made 4-of-6 from 3-point range vs. FAMU, 16th career game with at least 4 treys
 • Tied career high with 2 assists against Delaware State

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in assists (2.8)
 • Averaging 4.0 rebounds last 3 games

C.J. Kelly
 • Ranks 15th in the MEAC in blocks (0.7)

Armani Branch
 • Has 14 rebounds and 5 blocks last 4 games played
 • Scored season-high 13 points against Florida A&M

Kyonze Chavis
 • Averaging 4.5 points last 2 games

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense (41.3) and blocks (4.8), 2nd in scoring defense (70.4) and scoring margin (+1.6), and 3rd in 3-point field goal percentage (35.6), 3-point field goal percentage defense (33.4), defensive rebound percentage (71.3) and turnover margin (+0.71).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks 39th in blocks (4.8), 72nd in turnovers forced (15.41), 85th in field goal percentage defense (41.3), and No. 124 in 3-point field goal percentage (35.6).

March to 100
With 94 wins now, head coach Robert Jones is six away from reaching 100 for his career. His 100th win would also give him the most of any NSU coach in the Division I era, topping the 99 Anthony Evans had from 2007-13. Only four coaches in NSU history have accumulated 100 wins.

Conference Domination
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Norfolk State is 89-25 in regular season MEAC play, a 78.1 winning percentage. Among all D-I programs, NSU ranks 13th in the nation in conference winning percentage during that time.

At 89-25 (48-10 at home, 41-15 on the road), NSU is ahead of North Carolina Central (86-27) for the best record in the league since 2011. Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 99-31, while the Eagles are also 99-31 during that time.

NSU also owns a 141-114 overall record since the start of the 2011-12 season, second in the conference to North Carolina Central (155-91).

Good from 3
Norfolk State has made a 3-pointer in 299 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 109-25 (81.3 winning percentage) since the start of the 2011-12 season when leading or tied at the half.