NORFOLK, Va. - After a week off for finals, the Norfolk State men's basketball team is back on the road this weekend. The Spartans head out to the Windy City to take on Loyola Chicago on Sunday at 2 p.m. EST at Gentile Arena.

This will mark the fourth straight year NSU will make the trek to Loyola. The team heads up this year looking to break a seven-game losing streak.

Media Coverage
The game will be shown live on ESPN3, available through the ESPN app, with Andy Masur and Nick DiNardi on the call. Fans can also follow along with the live stats.

Series History
Loyola has won each of those previous three meetings, including the last two by 28 and 31 points, respectively. Last season, the Ramblers shot 68 percent from the floor (28-of-41) and made 13 3-pointers while holding NSU to 34.5 percent shooting for the afternoon. The closest game in the series came in 2016-17 when NSU lost 75-62.

Scouting Loyola Chicago
The Ramblers currently own a 6-4 record this year, which includes a win over Old Dominion as well as a loss to MEAC squad Coppin State by four. Loyola has won its last three, including a 31-point victory over Quincy last Saturday.

Lucas Williamson (25 points, 7-of-8 3-point shooting) and Cameron Krutwig (18 points, 9-of-11 field goals, eight rebounds) led the way in the victory. Loyola shot 62 percent from the floor with 10 3-pointers. On the season, the team shoots 52.5 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep. The Ramblers only give up 65 points per game, although teams have averaged more than eight 3-pointers per game.

Three players score in double figures for a team that averages 73 per game. Krutwig (16.7 points, 7.1 rebounds) and Tate Hall (13.7 points) are the top two scorers, with Williamson not far behind at 12.0. Keith Clemons has scored 20 points over the last two games after not playing the first eight games of the year. Marquise Kennedy (9.0 points) and Aher Uguak (6.2 points) also factor in. Not counting Clemons, the other five all shot at least 49 percent from the field.

Last Time Out
Hampton held NSU to slightly less than 30 percent shooting for the evening, and the Pirates defeated the Spartans 64-53 last Saturday at the HU Convocation Center. The Spartans shot 18-of-21 from the free throw line and were +6 in turnover margin, but they made just 3-of-22 from deep and were outrebounded by eight.

Steven Whitley contributed 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting with six rebounds. Devante Carter was the only other NSU player in double figures with 11 points and six rebounds. For HU (4-6), which shot 46.5 percent from the floor, Ben Stanley added 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting with 10 rebounds. Greg Heckstall (14 points) and Amir Smith (10 points, eight boards) also had solid games.

Recent Trends
 • NSU is averaging 10.5 second-chance points the last four games.
 • In the last four games, the opposition has shot 96-of-210 (45.7 percent). In the last 6 contests, they have scored 12.0 fastbreak points per game.
 • The Spartans have had at least 14 turnovers in 6 of the last 7 games.
 • The guard foursome of Bishop, Bryant, Whitley and Carter have combined for 27 of the team's 32 double-digit scoring performances this year.
 • In 7 of the Spartans' 1 games this year, they have scored the same amount or more points in the second half than the first. They did the same in 28 of 36 games last year, when they averaged 8.1 points more in second halves than first halves.
 • They have also had the same amount or more fouls than the opposition in 9 of 11 games this season (+3.4 in fouls per game). They did the same in 26 of 36 games last year (+2.2).

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans rank 1st in the MEAC in scoring defense (65.2), scoring margin (+5.3), field goal % defense (40.3), opponent rebounding (34.6), defensive rebound % (73.1), rebounding margin (+2.7), and assists (12.9). They are also second in steals (8.7), offensive rebounds (11.9), offensive rebound % (32.0), turnover margin (+2.27), and assist-turnover ratio (0.9), and third in field goal % (42.0), 3-point field goal % defense (29.7), and 3-pointers (7.3).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State stands 49th in steals (8.7), No. 61 in turnovers forced (16.55), No. 75 in 3-point field goal % defense (29.7), No. 78 in offensive rebounds (11.91), No. 91 in turnover margin (+2.4), No. 111 in field goal % defense (40.3), No. 115 in scoring defense (65.2), No. 138 in rebound margin (+2.7), and No. 142 in rebounds (37.36).

Player Facts
Steven Whitley
 • Went for season-best 20 points at Hampton, 6th career 20-point game
 • Averaging 13.2 points (27-of-59), 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals last 5 games
 • Ranks 6th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.22), 10th in assists (329) and 17th in steals (124)
 • Stands 3rd in the MEAC in assists (3.6), 4th in assist-turnover ratio (1.3), 6th in steals (1.8), 18th in scoring (10.4) and 20th in rebounding (4.5)
 • Ranks No. 123 in the nation in steals (1.82) and No. 200 in assists (3.6)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 28th in steals (148), 39th in assists (366), No. 76 in games played (109) and No. 127 in rebounds (470)

Jermaine Bishop
 • Averaging 5.0 rebounds last 4 games
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goals (2.5), 3rd in free throw % (85.2), 6th in scoring (13.7), 8th in 3-point field goal % (37.8) and minutes (32.0), and 13th in assists (2.3)
 • Stands No. 90 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (37.8) and No. 120 in 3-point field goals (2.55)

Joe Bryant Jr.
 • Has made his first 20 free throws of the season
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in free throw % (100.0), 3rd in 3-point field goal % (42.9), 9th in steals (1.6) and 3-point field goals (1.8), and 13th in scoring (11.6) and offensive rebounds (1.5)
 • Stands No. 212 in the nation in steals (1.60)

Devante Carter
 • Averaging 11.0 points on 9-of-15 shooting last 2 games
 • Played in a career-high 36 minutes at Hampton
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in field goal % (54.3), 4th in steals (2.0), 7th in assist-turnover ratio (1.2), 8th in assists (3.1), 13th in defensive rebounds (3.9), 17th in rebounding (4.9), and 19th in scoring (10.0)
 • Stands 67th in the nation in steals (2.00)

Yoro Sidibe
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in offensive rebounds (2.1)

Chris Ford
 • Averaging 4.3 points on 6-of-9 shooting last 4 games
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in blocks (1.3)
 • Stands No. 145 in the nation in blocks (1.27)

Kashaun Hicks
 • Tied career high with 2 steals at Hampton

Kyonze Chavis
 • Averaging 5.0 points on 6-of-13 shooting last 3 games played

Efstratios Kalogerias
 • Grabbed career-best 6 rebounds at Hampton