NORFOLK, Va. - The Spartans are looking to remain perfect in MEAC play halfway through the conference season when they travel on the road this weekend. The Norfolk State men's basketball team will play at Howard on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Burr Gymnasium.

For the second week in a row, the Spartans will not play on Monday night as part of the MEAC's Saturday-Monday schedule. Instead, they will look to improve to 8-0 in conference play with the Saturday contest against the Bison. NSU currently leads North Carolina A&T (6-0) by a half game, with North Carolina Central and Florida A&M at 5-2.

Media Coverage
The game 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 Howard's live stats and its live video feed.

Series History
NSU has held a big edge over the Bison in recent years, winning the last five games as well as 15 of the previous 16 contests. The Spartans won the most recent meeting last year, 79-74 up in Washington, D.C. That moved NSU's all-time record to 44-10 against the Bison, including 32-7 since moving to Division I in 1997.

Scouting Howard
The Bison currently sit fifth in the MEAC standings at 4-3, having won their past three conference games after a 1-3 start. All three of those losses came at home, as the Bison have played five of their first seven conference games at Burr Gymnasium. They stand 10-12 overall.

The Bison bring the MEAC's highest scoring offense into the weekend, averaging 79 points per game while giving up 78. Howard shoots 43 percent overall and 33 percent from deep, but the Bison average 23.5 free throw attempts each time out. RJ Cole is a big reason, hitting 132-of-163 (81 percent) from the free throw line. He averages 20.4 points and 6.4 assists per game and leads the league in scoring.

Charles Williams is second in the conference at 19.0 points per game, while he and Cole have combined for 88 3-pointers. Chad Lott tallies 15.1 points while shooting 49 percent overall, but no other player averages 6 points. Zion Cousins is the top rebounder at 8.0 boards per game. HU is +2.2 in turnover margin, giving the ball away just 12.5 times per contest.

Last Time Out
NSU made a school record 18 3-pointers and shot a season-best 55 percent from the floor in an 88-60 win over Maryland Eastern Shore last Saturday at home. The Spartans led by 21 at the break and weathered a Hawk comeback attempt that saw MDES get to within 13 with 12 minutes left in the game.

The Spartans had just three players reach double figures, including Nic Thomas with a career-high 26 points. He made 7-of-11 from deep and 8-of-13 overall. Mastadi Pitt contributed 18 points, knocking down 4-of-5 from the 3-point line as well. Derrik Jamerson Jr. made all four of his shots from beyond the arc and tallied 16 points with five rebounds. NSU was 18-of-27 from deep for the evening.

Maryland Eastern Shore made 56 percent in the second half and 44 percent overall. Ryan Andino totaled 19 points, and Canaan Bartley added 15 points and six rebounds. The Hawks outscored NSU 28-18 in points in the paint, while NSU held the edge in fastbreak points, 15-4.

Season Trends
 • NSU's 18 3-pointers against Maryland Eastern Shore broke the old school record of 14, set four different times in the last several year. The Spartans also connected on 66.7 percent from beyond the arc, topping the previous Division I best of 64.3 percent (9-of-14) set against Howard in 2012 and against Bethune-Cookman in 2006.

 • The Spartans are currently hitting 37.9 percent from deep, a pace that would top the Division I record of 35.9 percent set last year. At 73.8 points per game, NSU is on pace for its highest scoring average since the 1999-2000 season.

 • Since the start of the 2015-16 season, NSU is 25-3 in MEAC games at home. The team's current seven-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 7-0 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 14 teams (through Wednesday) still without a loss in conference play along with Lipscomb, Villanova, Hofstra, Princeton, Yale, North Carolina A&T, Washington, Tennessee, LSU, Wofford, Sam Houston State, Prairie View A&M and Gonzaga.

 • In the last 12 games, the Spartans are hitting 43.1 percent from deep (113-of-262). They are also shooting 44.7 percent overall (212-of-444) and 77.1 percent from the free throw line (121-of-157) line the last 8 games.

 • NSU is averaging 7.2 steals on 15.8 opponent turnovers the last 5 games.

 • The Spartans have had the rebounding edge in 7 of the last 8 games (+47).

 • NSU is outscoring teams 16.9 - 15.4 in points off turnovers, 27.4 - 26.2 in points in the paint, and 8.1 - 6.7 in fastbreak points on the year. The Spartans have tallied 18.2 points off turnovers the last 5 games and 12.0 second chance points the last 3 games.

 • NSU has had more fouls than the other team in 16 of 22 games (+2.7 per game).

 • In 16 of 22 games, the Spartans have scored more points in the second half than the first (+7.3). They also shoot better in the second half (47.0 - 41.7), as do opponents (43.9 - 39.7). NSU is also -0.8 on the glass in the first half and +0.5 in the second.

 • The Spartans are currently 3-9 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 % (49.1), 4th in 3-point field goals per game (2.6), 10th in field goal % (49.0) and 20th in scoring (10.5)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 1st in free throw % (100.0) and 3-point field goals (3.9), 2nd in 3-point field goal % (60.0), 8th in field goal % (55.7) and 9th in scoring (15.6)
 • Stands 2nd in the nation in 3-point field goal % (49.1) and No. 108 in 3-point field goals per game (2.59)
 • Ranks 4th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (43.4), 8th in 3-point field goals (132) and 12th in 3-point field goal attempts (304)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, stands 16th in 3-point field goal % (43.4), No. 49 in 3-point field goals per game (2.40) and No. 255 in 3-pointers (132)
 • Ranks 1st in NSU D-I single-season records and 3rd in overall single-season records in 3-point field goal % (49.1)
 • Averaging 14.4 points last 10 games on 45-of-82 shooting, 36-of-60 from deep, and 18-of-19 from the free throw line
 • Made 4-of-4 from deep against Maryland Eastern Shore, 18th career game with at least 4 treys

Nic Thomas
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.7), 4th in 3-point field goal % (39.4), 8th in scoring (14.5) and 12th in free throw % (76.2)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 3rd in 3-point field goals (3.3), 4th in 3-point field goal % (45.5), 6th in scoring (16.2) and 15th in free throw % (77.3),
 • Stands No. 71 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (39.4) and No. 94 in 3-point field goals per game (2.67)
 • Stands 10th all-time at NSU in free throw % (77.6), 16th in 3-point field goal % (36.2) and 20th in 3-point field goals (93) and 3-point field goal attempts (257)
 • Ranks 12th in NSU D-I single-season records in 3-point field goal % (39.4)
 • Averaging 22.0 points on 20-of-37 shooting, 13-of-25 from deep, and 13-of-14 from the free throw line last 3 games
 • Had career-high 26 points against Maryland Eastern Shore, hitting career-best 7-of-11 from deep; Finished one 3-pointer off school record of 8
 • Marked 7th career 20-point game and 9th career game with at least 4 3-pointers, including 7 games this season
 • Named MEAC Co-Player of the Week on Jan. 29

Steven Whitley
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC in steals (1.4), 11th in assists (3.2) and assist-turnover ratio (1.1), 14th in defensive rebounds (3.9) and 29th in scoring (9.2)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 9th in assist-turnover ratio (1.3), 10th in steals (1.3) and assists (4.1), 12th in field goal % (51.0) and 13th in defensive rebounds (4.3)
 • Ranks 8th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.11) and 19th in assists (218)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 170 in assists (255) and No. 479 in rebounds (329)
 • Ranks 14th in NSU D-I single-season records in assist average (3.20)
 • Averaging 10.3 points on 11-of-22 shooting with 5.0 rebounds last 3 games
 • Had season-high 8 assists against Maryland Eastern Shore

Jordan Butler
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (2.0), 7th in free throw % (80.8), 8th in rebounds (6.5), 9th in defensive rebounds (4.7) and 15th in offensive rebounds (1.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 2nd in blocks (2.1), 5th in free throw % (88.5) and 7th in rebounds (8.0) and defensive rebounds (6.1)
 • Stands No. 38 in the nation in blocks (2.00) and No. 153 in free throw % (80.8)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (205) and 11th in games played (116)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 7th in blocks (205), No. 29 in block average (1.77), No. 54 in rebounds (651) and No. 146 in games played (116)
 • Ranks 9th in NSU D-I single-season records in free throw % (80.8) and 12th in blocks (40)
 • Averaging 8.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks and shooting 23-of-26 from the free throw line the last 8 games

Alex Long
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in field goal % (50.3) and blocks (0.9)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 11th in field goal % (52.9) and 17th in rebounding (5.4)
 • Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (122) and games played (121)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 44 in games played (121) and No. 88 in rebounds (588)

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (37.1) and 14th in assists (2.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 6th in free throw % (83.3) and 15th in 3-point field goal % (37.0)
 • Stands 14th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (36.5)
 • Averaging 14.3 points on 13-of-28 shooting, 8-of-15 from deep, last 3 games
 • 15-of-18 from the free throw line last 6 games
 • Tied career high by hitting 4-of-5 from deep against Maryland Eastern Shore

Kyonze Chavis
 • Averaging 7.5 points on 11-of-16 shooting with 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists last 4 games

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in blocks (4.5), 2nd in scoring margin (+4.0), field goal percentage defense (41.7), 3-point field goal percentage (37.9) and defensive rebounds (26.0), and 3rd in scoring offense (73.8), scoring defense (69.8), field goal percentage (44.5), defensive rebound percentage (71.3) and 3-point field goals (8.1).

In MEAC games only, NSU ranks 1st in scoring offense (78.3), scoring margin (+12.0), free throw percentage (76.8) and 3-point field goal percentage (44.3), 2nd in field goal percentage (48.0), opponent rebounding (30.7), rebounding margin (+6.0) and 3-point field goals (10.0), and 3rd in assists (14.9) and defensive rebound percentage (72.6).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks 39th in 3-point field goal percentage (37.9), No. 50 in blocks (4.5), No. 51 in turnovers forced (15.50), No. 85 in field goal percentage defense (41.7), No. 131 in scoring defense (69.8), No. 132 in free throw percentage (71.6) and No. 134 in defensive rebounds (26.00).

March to 100
With 99 wins now, head coach Robert Jones is one 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.

Ahead at the Half
The Spartans are 112-25 (81.8 winning percentage) since the start of the 2011-12 season when leading or tied at the half, including 10-1 this year.