NORFOLK, Va. - NSU's first long MEAC trip takes the Norfolk State men's basketball team to Savannah State on Saturday night followed by a contest at South Carolina State on Monday. Saturday's game at SSU will tip-off at 6 p.m. at Tiger Arena.

The Spartans enter the contest 4-0 in the MEAC and in first place in the league, with two other schools at 3-0 so far this year (North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central).

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").

Savannah State will also provide live stats through its website as well as live video.

Series History
Savannah State earned its first win over NSU as a D-I program last year at home, although NSU won the second meeting a year ago at home to improve to 11-4 all-time against the Tigers. The Spartans had won 10 in a row, all as a D-I program, until SSU's win last year. The Tigers won the first three meetings in the late 1950's and early 1960's.

NSU has won the past five meetings with South Carolina State as well as the last three in Orangeburg. The Spartans lead the all-time series, 24-18, as the Bulldogs have not won back-to-back games against NSU since the 2005-06 season. NSU is 8-1 in the last nine meetings.

Scouting Savannah State
Savannah State has lost nine of its last 10 games, and the Tigers sit 4-13 overall and 1-2 in the MEAC. The only win during that time was an 88-87 overtime win at Morgan State on Jan. 7. The Tigers average 76 points per game but also give up 96 playing at a fast pace.

They make nearly 12 3-pointers per game despite shooting just 28 percent from deep as well as 38 percent overall. Opponents make 49.5 percent overall and 37 percent from 3-point range. The Tigers are usually at a disadvantage on the glass (-7.7 rebounds per game) and in turnovers (-1.8 turnover margin).

Jaquan Dotson leads the way with 13.5 points and 6.4 rebounds, with Zack Sellers second on the team with 11.5 points with 4.8 assists. Four more players tally between eight and 10 points per game, including leading rebounding Tyrell Harper (8.8 points, 6.6 rebounds) and leading 3-point shooter Collins Joseph (8.5 points, 38 percent from deep).

Scouting South Carolina State
The Bulldogs topped Morgan State and Coppin State last weekend on the road, improving to 2-1 in the conference and 4-15 overall with their first two Division I wins. Of its 14 non-conference games against D-I competition, all but one game came on the road.

Averaging 68 points per game, the Bulldogs only make five 3-pointers each time out. They give up 76 points per contest, and opponents have shot 48 percent overall and 37 percent from 3-point range. SCSU does shoot 73 percent from the free throw line, making nearly 16 per game from the charity stripe. Despite its difficult non-conference schedule, on the year the Bulldogs have played teams almost completely even on the glass.

Damani Applewhite is the team's top player, averaging 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He shoots 52 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free throw line with 87 makes on the year. Janai Raynor-Powell is next in line at 10.1 points, while Ozante Fields is third on the tea in scoring at 8.8 points but has missed the last several games.

Last Time Out
NSU got a career-game from Derrik Jamerson Jr., who had 26 points on 7-of-10 3-point shooting, in a 75-68 win over Bethune-Cookman on Monday night at Joseph Echols Hall. The Spartans led the entire second half and weathered a couple of B-CU runs that got the Wildcats to within two and then within four late in the game.

NSU made 47 percent from the floor and 35 percent from deep, although aside from Jamerson, the rest of the team shot just 1-of-13 from beyond the arc. B-CU made 47 percent as well, but the Wildcats had just two 3-pointers and missed 12 of their 28 free throws.

Alex Long added 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting with eight rebounds, and Kyonze Chavis had a career-high 15 points while making all five field goal attempts and all four free throws. B-CU was led by Cletrell Pope, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds. He helped the Wildcats to a 42-26 edge in points in the paint.

Season Trends
 • This year marks the first time in four years the Spartans started off 4-0 in the MEAC. They have not started off 5-0 since the 2012-13 season. They also began 5-0 in 2002-03 and 2011-12.

 • In the last 9 games alone, the Spartans are hitting 77-of-187 from deep (41.2 percent). They are also 133-of-279 (47.7 percent) overall and 71-of-90 (78.9 percent) from the free throw line the last 5 games.

 • NSU has 20 steals on 39 opponent turnovers the last 2 games.

 • NSU is outscoring teams 17.1 - 15.4 in points off turnovers, 28.0 - 26.3 in points in the paint, and 8.3 - 7.3 in fastbreak points on the year. The Spartans have tallied 22.5 points off turnovers the last two games.

 • NSU has had more fouls than the other team in 14 of 19 games (+3.0 per game).

 • In 14 of the first 19 games, the Spartans have scored more points in the second half than the first (+6.9). They also shoot better in the second half (46.2 - 41.5), as do opponents (44.1 - 39.7). NSU is also -1.4 on the glass in the first half and +0.3 in the second.

 • The Spartans are currently 2-9 when allowing at least 41 percent shooting and 3-8 when allowing at least 65 points.

Player Facts
Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (48.5) and 3-point field goals per game (2.6), 8th in field goal % (49.6) and 21st in scoring (10.6)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 1st in free throw % (100.0), 3-point field goals (4.8) and 3-point field goal % (63.3), 2nd in scoring (20.3), 7th in field goal % (61.0), 12th in rebounds (6.8) and defensive rebounds (4.8) and 15th in offensive rebounds (2.0)
 • Stands 7th in the nation in 3-point field goal % (48.5), No. 116 in 3-point field goals per game (2.58) and No. 249 in double-doubles (2)
 • Ranks 4th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (42.9), 8th in 3-point field goals (124) and 14th in 3-point field goal attempts (289)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 24th in 3-point field goal % (42.9) and No. 255 in 3-pointers (124)
 • Averaging 16.6 points last 7 games on 36-of-62 shooting, 28-of-47 from deep, and 16-of-17 from the free throw line with 5.1 rebounds
 • Had career-high 26 points against Bethune-Cookman for 5th career 20-point game, including 4th in last 6 games; Hit career-best 7-of-10 from 3-point range, 17th career game with at least 4 treys and one off school record of 8; Also made career-high 5-of-5 from the free throw line
 • Tallied 2nd career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds at Coppin State

Nic Thomas
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.4), 9th in scoring (13.2), 11th in 3-point field goal % (36.8) and 13th in free throw % (72.9)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 9th in 3-point field goals (2.3), 14th in steals (1.3) and 28th in scoring (10.3)
 • Stands No. 93 in the nation in 3-point field goals per game (2.39)
 • Stands 17th all-time at NSU in free throw % (76.5) and 20th in 3-point field goal attempts (232)
 • Averaging 2.6 assists last 10 games played

Steven Whitley
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC in steals (1.5), 9th in assists (3.1) and assist-turnover ratio (1.0) and 14th in defensive rebounds (3.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 8th in assists (4.3), 10th in steals (1.5) and assist-turnover ratio (1.3), 14th in field goal % (51.9) and 15th in defensive rebounds (4.5)
 • Stand No. 230 in the nation in steals (1.47)
 • Ranks 8th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.12) and 20th in assists (206)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 170 in assists (243) and No. 473 in rebounds (314)
 • Averaging 10.2 points on 20-of-34 shooting, 4-of-9 from deep, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists last 5 games

Jordan Butler
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.8), 6th in free throw % (80.3), 9th in defensive rebounds (4.5), 10th in in rebounds (6.2) and 15th in offensive rebounds (1.7)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 4th in blocks (1.5), 6th in defensive rebounds (6.3) and free throw % (89.5) and 7th in rebounds (7.8)
 • Stands No. 59 in the nation in blocks (1.82) and No. 169 in free throw % (80.3)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (196) and 16th in games played (113)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 8th in blocks (196), No. 31 in block average (1.73), No. 54 in rebounds (626) and No. 119 in games played (113)
 • Averaging 9.8 points and 8.0 rebounds and shooting 17-of-19 from the free throw line last 5 games
 • Tied career high with 2 steals at Coppin State

Alex Long
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in blocks (0.9) and field goal % (50.7) and 29th in scoring (9.3)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 10th in field goal % (55.3), 14th in offensive rebounds (2.3) and 23rd in scoring (12.3)
 • Stands No. 249 in the nation in double-doubles (2)
 • Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (121) and 8th in games played (118)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 33 in games played (118), No. 48 in blocks (121) and No. 86 in rebounds (572)
 • Averaging 12.3 points on 21-of-38 shooting and 5.5 rebounds last 4 games

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in assists (2.9)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 15th in assists (2.8)
 • Has had at least 3 assists in 14 of 18 games played
 • Set career high with 7 assists in career-high 37 minutes at Coppin State

C.J. Kelly
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in blocks (0.7)
 • Had career-high 2 assists against Bethune-Cookman

Armani Branch
 • Tied career high with 2 steals at Coppin State

Kyonze Chavis
 • Tallied career-high 15 points against Bethune-Cookman, hitting career-bests 5-of-5 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the free throw line

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 2nd in the MEAC in scoring defense (70.0), scoring margin (+2.6), field goal percentage defense (41.7), 3-point field goal percentage defense (32.9) and blocks (4.6), and 3rd in field goal percentage (43.9), 3-point field goal percentage (35.9), defensive rebound percentage (71.6) and turnover margin (+0.95).

In MEAC games only, NSU ranks 1st in free throw percentage (78.6), opponent rebounding (30.0), rebounding margin (+6.2) and assists (15.5), 2nd in scoring defense (64.8), scoring margin (+11.2), field goal percentage (48.1) and defensive rebound percentage (74.7), and 3rd in scoring offense (76.0), 3-point field goal percentage (41.0), 3-point field goal percentage defense (27.9) and 3-point field goals (8.5).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks 48th in blocks (4.6), 54th in turnovers forced (15.84), 91st in field goal percentage defense (41.7), No. 102 in 3-point field goal percentage (35.9) and No. 129 in 3-point field goal percentage defense (32.9).

March to 100
With 96 wins now, head coach Robert Jones is four 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.

Winning the State
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU has the fourth-most wins (143) among the 14 Division I schools in the state of Virginia. The Spartans trail Virginia (204), VCU (189) and Old Dominion (153).

Ahead at the Half
The Spartans are 111-25 (81.6 winning percentage) since the start of the 2011-12 season when leading or tied at the half.