NORFOLK, Va. - Riding a six-game win streak that has the Spartans in first place in the MEAC, the Norfolk State men's basketball team will look to keep that going on Saturday at home on Breast Cancer Awareness Night sponsored by the Virginia Lottery. The Spartans take on Maryland Eastern Shore at 6:30 p.m. inside Joseph Echols Hall.

NSU sits 6-0 in the conference, a half game ahead of North Carolina A&T (5-0). The only other team with even just one loss right now is North Carolina Central (4-1).

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon and Woube Gebre 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 the live stats and the live video feed. The live video feed also carries the radio broadcast.

NSU to Honor Former Players
During Saturday's game against Maryland Eastern Shore, the Spartans will honor their former players who have had their numbers retired with a jersey banner ceremony. The five women and two men, Bob Dandridge (No. 12) and David Pope (No. 34), will now have their names and jersey numbers hanging from the Echols Hall rafters.

Series History
NSU owns a four-game win streak against Maryland Eastern Shore, as NSU has won each of the last three regular season meetings as well as last year's contest in the MEAC tournament. The Spartans have won 11 of the last 12 dating back to the 2011-12 campaign. They are 31-6 against the Hawks since joining the MEAC and 46-17 overall.

It's a series that began in 1953-54 and included regular meetings between the early 1960's and early 1970's.

Scouting Maryland Eastern Shore
The Hawks have struggled this year, limping to a 3-15 overall record and a 1-5 MEAC mark. They knocked off Florida A&M on the road last weekend for their first Division I win of the season. They fell by nine points to North Carolina A&T, but their other four conference losses have been by double digits.

The Hawks average just 55 points per game and give up 73. They shoot just 37 percent from the floor and 26.5 percent from 3-point range, while the opposition connects on 47 percent overall and 36.5 percent from deep. MDES is also -8.3 on the glass but does keep its turnover margin at less than -1.0.

Ryan Andino averages 10.0 points per game, and Tyler Jones contributes 8.6 as well. A.J. Cheeseman was leading the team in scoring at 12.5 but has missed the last 10 games due to injury. Isaac Taylor (7.9 points) did not play the early part of the season but has contributed as of late, and Bryan Urrutia (6.1 points, 5.2 assists) is another name to watch out for.

Last Time Out
NSU again trailed late in the second half for the second time in as many games, but again the Spartans were able to come away with a victory. This time it was a 74-69 triumph over South Carolina State on the road last Monday. They erased a nine-point second-half deficit and a four-point deficit with five minutes to go.

The Spartans outscored the Bulldogs 10-1 to close the game. NSU held S.C. State to 33 percent shooting in the second half after trailing by four at the break. The Spartans shot 43 percent for the night, and the teams combined for 28 offensive rebounds and 47 second-chance points.

Nic Thomas had 16 points in the second half and 19 for the game, hitting 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Steven Whitley shot 5-of-8 for 12 points with five rebounds, and Joe Bryant Jr. totaled a career-high 11 points. Mastadi Pitt reached double figures with 10 as well.

Season Trends
 • Since the start of the 2015-16 season, NSU is 24-3 in MEAC games at home. The team's current six-game win streak is the longest since running off 10 straight in MEAC play during the 2016-17 campaign.

 • This year marks the third time the Spartans have started 6-0 in the MEAC along with the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. They were 8-0 in 2011-12 before suffering their first loss and 16-0 in 2012-13.

 • NSU is also one of 25 teams (through Wednesday) still without a loss in conference play along with Stony Brook, Liberty, Lipscomb, Villanova, Radford, Michigan State, UC Santa Barbara, Hofstra, Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, Cornell, Rider, Bowling Green, North Carolina A&T, Murray State, Jacksonville State, Washington, Tennessee, LSU, Wofford, Sam Houston State, Prairie View A&M and Gonzaga.

 • In the last 11 games, the Spartans are hitting 95-of-235 from deep (40.4 percent). They are also 184-of-393 (46.8 percent) overall and 107-of-140 (76.4 percent) from the free throw line the last 7 games.

 • NSU is averaging 7.5 steals on 17.0 opponent turnovers the last 4 games.

 • The Spartans have had the rebounding edge in six of the last 7 games (+41).

 • NSU is outscoring teams 17.0 - 15.6 in points off turnovers, 27.8 - 26.1 in points in the paint, and 7.8 - 6.8 in fastbreak points on the year. The Spartans have tallied 19.0 points off turnovers the last 4 games and 16.5 second chance points the last 2 games.

 • NSU has had more fouls than the other team in 15 of 21 games (+2.6 per game).

 • In 16 of 21 games, the Spartans have scored more points in the second half than the first (+8.0). They also shoot better in the second half (46.8 - 41.0), as do opponents (43.4 - 40.0). NSU is also -1.1 on the glass in the first half and +0.6 in the second.

 • The Spartans are currently 2-9 when allowing at least 41 percent shooting and 9-1 when opponents hit less than that.

Player Facts
Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (47.3), 3rd in 3-point field goals per game (2.5), 11th in field goal % (47.6) and 24th in scoring (10.2)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 1st in free throw % (100.0) and 3-point field goals (3.8), 2nd in 3-point field goal % (56.1), 9th in scoring (15.5) and 13th in field goal % (52.7)
 • Stands 7th in the nation in 3-point field goal % (47.3) and No. 128 in 3-point field goals per game (2.52)
 • Ranks 4th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (42.7), 8th in 3-point field goals (128) and 12th in 3-point field goal attempts (300)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, stands 27th in 3-point field goal % (42.7) and No. 257 in 3-pointers (128)
 • Ranks 1st in NSU D-I single-season records and 3rd in overall single-season records in 3-point field goal % (47.3)
 • Averaging 14.2 points last 9 games on 40-of-76 shooting, 32-of-56 from deep, and 16-of-17 from the free throw line
 • Tied career high with 2 assists at Savannah State

Nic Thomas
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.5), 7th in 3-point field goal % (37.4), 8th in scoring (13.9) and 12th in free throw % (76.3)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 7th in 3-point field goals (2.6), 10th in free throw % (77.8), 13th in 3-point field goal % (39.4) and 14th in scoring (14.2)
 • Stands No. 150 in the nation in 3-point field goals per game (2.45)
 • Stands 10th all-time at NSU in free throw % (77.9) and 20th in 3-point field goal attempts (246)
 • Averaging 20.0 points on 12-of-24 shooting, 6-of-14 from deep, and 10-of-10 from the free throw line the last 2 games
 • Had 21 points at Savannah State, 6th career 20-point game

Steven Whitley
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC in steals (1.5), 10th in assists (2.9), 13th in defensive rebounds (3.9) and 29th in scoring (9.3)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 8th in steals (1.5), 10th in assists (3.5), 12th in assist-turnover ratio (1.0), 13th in defensive rebounds (4.5) and 14th in field goal % (52.4)
 • Stand No. 229 in the nation in steals (1.47)
 • Ranks 8th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.04) and 20th in assists (210)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 169 in assists (247) and No. 453 in rebounds (326)
 • Averaging 11.5 points on 8-of-15 shooting with 6.0 rebounds last 2 games
 • Averaging 2.0 steals last 4 games

Jordan Butler
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.9), 8th in free throw % (80.0), rebounds (6.6) and defensive rebounds (4.7), and 14th in offensive rebounds (1.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 2nd in blocks (2.0), 4th in free throw % (87.0) and 7th in rebounds (8.5) and defensive rebounds (6.5)
 • Stands No. 48 in the nation in blocks (1.95) and No. 168 in free throw % (80.0)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (202) and 15th in games played (115)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 7th in blocks (202), No. 28 in block average (1.76), No. 51 in rebounds (646) and No. 114 in games played (115)
 • Ranks 9th in NSU D-I single-season records in free throw % (80.0) and 12th in blocks (37)
 • Averaging 8.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks and shooting 20-of-23 from the free throw line the last 7 games
 • Had 10 rebounds at South Carolina State for 17th career 10+ rebounding game

Alex Long
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in field goal % (50.6) and 8th in blocks (0.9)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 11th in field goal % (54.2), 14th in rebounding (5.8) and offensive rebounds (2.2), and 30th in scoring (10.5)
 • Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (121) and 5th in games played (120)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 31 in games played (120) and No. 85 in rebounds (585)
 • Averaging 10.5 points on 26-of-48 shooting and 5.8 rebounds last 6 games
 • Had 11 rebounds at Savannah State, his 8th career 10+ rebound game

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 13th in the MEAC in assists (2.8) and 14th in 3-point field goal % (33.8)
 • Averaging 12.5 points last 2 games
 • 11-of-13 from the free throw line last 5 games

Armani Branch
 • Scored 10 points at Savannah State, his 3rd 10-point game of the season

Kyonze Chavis
 • Averaging 9.0 points on 10-of-14 shooting with 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists last 3 games

Joe Bryant Jr.
 • Had career highs of 11 points on 2-of-3 from deep and 3-of-3 from the free throw line at South Carolina State

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in blocks (4.5), 2nd in scoring margin (+2.9) and field goal percentage defense (41.6), and 3rd in scoring defense (70.2), field goal percentage (44.0), 3-point field goal percentage (36.1), defensive rebounds (26.1) and defensive rebound percentage (71.4).

In MEAC games only, NSU ranks 1st in scoring offense (76.7), free throw percentage (76.1), 3-point field goal percentage (39.7), opponent rebounding (31.5), 2nd in field goal percentage (46.9), rebounding margin (+6.0), defensive rebound percentage (73.0) and 3-point field goals (8.7), and 3rd in scoring margin (+9.3) and offensive rebound percentage (31.9).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks 53rd in turnovers forced (15.71), 54th in blocks (4.5), No. 82 in field goal percentage defense (41.6), No. 92 in 3-point field goal percentage (36.1) and No. 136 in defensive rebounds (26.14).

March to 100
With 98 wins now, head coach Robert Jones is two 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.