NORFOLK, Va. - Another key weekend awaits the Norfolk State men's basketball team, this time against the No. 2 and 3 teams in the MEAC. Up first, the Spartans host North Carolina Central on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall for Alumni Day. NSU will retire Kyle O'Quinn's No. 10 jersey at halftime.

The Spartans will then host North Carolina A&T on Monday night at 8 p.m.

NCCU sits in a tie for third in the league at 7-4. The Spartans continue to lead the conference at 9-1, with N.C. A&T second at 8-2. NCCU is one of four teams with four losses.

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").

The games will also be shown live on FloHoops.com, one of three this year for NSU on the network, including Monday's contest against A&T. Fans can also follow along with the live stats.

Series History
North Carolina Central has won the past three meetings with the Spartans and seven of the last nine. Thanks to its success during the Division II era, NSU holds a 29-14 all-time advantage against the Eagles. That includes a 16-game win streak to start the series beginning in 1963-64.

North Carolina A&T won both meetings with NSU last year, including in the quarterfinal round of the MEAC tournament, 70-64. The closest rival in the MEAC in terms of all-time record, the Spartans hold a 25-22 advantage against the Aggies. NSU had won six in a row before last year.

Scouting North Carolina Central
The Eagles, picked to finish second in the league this year, own a 12-13 overall record as well as a 7-4 MEAC mark. They are coming off a pair of easy wins at home over Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State by a combined 60 points. NCCU also fell to Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M on the road the week before.

N.C. Central scores 72 points per game and leads the conference in scoring defense at 66 points. The Eagles make nearly 46 percent from the field, and they outrebound teams by a +6.7 margin each time out. They do, however, turn the ball over 15.4 times per contest.

The Eagles get their offense from a variety of sources, led by Raasean Davis with 15.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Randy Miller Jr. tallies 12.5 points and leads the team in 3-point shooting. Jibri Blount averages 9.9 after not playing the first half of the season, while Larry McKnight (9.7 points) and Zacarry Douglas (9.4 points, 7.7 rebounds) are also in the mix.

Scouting North Carolina A&T
The Aggies stand 13-11 overall and 8-2 in the league going into their game Saturday at Howard. Their only two MEAC losses came in back-to-back games at Florida A&M and at Bethune-Cookman two weeks ago. They most recently earned a 30-point win over Delaware State at home before squeezing by Maryland Eastern Shore by seven last weekend.

Despite scoring 70 points per game, the Aggies do not have a single player averaging double figures. Qua Copeland tallies 9.7 points, Terry Harris is next at 9.2, and Ibrahim Sylla contributes 9.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. It does not end there, with Malik Gantz (8.8 points), Ronald Jackson (6.7), Kameron Langley (5.9 points, 6.4 assists), Aaren Edmead (5.7 points) and Amari Hamilton (5.5) all chipping in. Every one of those players has led the team in scoring in at least one game, and 10 of those times it was on the heels of a 20-point game.

The Aggies hit nearly 47 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep. They don't turn the ball over as much as the opposition (+1.5 turnover margin) but they do get beat on the glass most of the time (-4.7 rebounding margin).

Last Time Out
NSU never trailed in the game on Monday night, which began with the Spartans up 12-0 and ended in a 66-54 win on the road at Florida A&M. The Rattlers got as close as two points midway through the first half. NSU led by seven at the break and as much as 20 in the second half before the Rattlers scored eight straight to close the game.

The Spartans held FAMU to 34 percent overall shooting, including 5-of-22 from 3-point range. NSU made 43 percent for the night, including 6-of-14 from deep. The Spartans also made their first 14 free throw attempts before missing their last three of the game.

NSU had just two players in double figures, including Nic Thomas with a career-high tying 26 points on 4-of-6 3-point shooting and 10-of-10 free throw shooting. Jordan Butler added 10 points and five rebounds as well. Justin Ravenel tallied 18 points to lead FAMU, and Isaiah Martin added 10 points and nine boards.

Season Trends
 • The Spartans are currently hitting 37.6 percent from deep, a pace that would top the Division I record of 35.9 percent set last year. With 197 3-pointers, they are also taking aim at the school record of 254 set last year as well. And at 73.8 points per game, NSU is on pace for its highest scoring average since the 1999-2000 season.

 • In the last 15 games, the Spartans are hitting 41.8 percent from deep (132-of-316). They are also shooting 46.1 percent overall (287-of-623) and 77.0 percent from the free throw line (174-of-226) line the last 11 games.

 • NSU is averaging 7.0 steals on 16.5 opponent turnovers the last 8 games.

 • NSU is outscoring teams 17.1 - 15.1 in points off turnovers, 27.3 - 25.9 in points in the paint, and 7.7 - 6.0 in fastbreak points on the year. The Spartans have tallied 18.5 points off turnovers the last 8 games and 11.8 second chance points the last 6 games.

 • NSU has had more fouls than the other team in 19 of 25 games (+2.9 per game).

 • In 19 of 25 games, the Spartans have scored the same or more points in the second half than the first (+8.4), including 44.9 second-half points the last 8 games. They also shoot better in the second half (47.4 - 40.6), as do opponents (44.0 - 40.2). NSU is also -1.4 on the glass in the first half and +0.8 in the second.

 • Since the start of the 2015-16 season, NSU is 25-3 in MEAC games at home.

Player Facts
Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (48.9), 4th in 3-point field goals per game (2.6), 7th in field goal % (49.7) and 17th in scoring (10.9)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 1st in free throw % (100.0) and 3-point field goal % (56.7), 2nd in 3-point field goals (3.4), 5th in field goal % (55.3) and 9th in scoring (15.2)
 • Stands 3rd in the nation in 3-point field goal % (48.9) and No. 111 in 3-point field goals per game (2.56)
 • Ranks 4th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (43.6), 7th in 3-point field goals (139) and 12th in 3-point field goal attempts (319)
 • Ranks 1st in NSU D-I single-season records and 3rd in overall records in 3-point field goal % (48.9), as well as 9th in D-I and 13th in overall season records in 3-pointers (64)
 • Averaging 15.2 points last 10 games on 47-of-85 shooting, 34-of-60 from deep, and 24-of-24 from the free throw line
 • Has made his last 26 free throw attempts

Nic Thomas
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.7), 7th in 3-point field goal % (39.6) and scoring (15.0) and 9th in free throw % (79.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 3rd in 3-point field goals (3.1), 5th in free throw % (85.7), 6th in scoring (17.1) and 7th in 3-point field goal % (44.6)
 • Stands No. 75 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (39.6), No. 92 in 3-point field goals per game (2.65) and No. 171 in free throw % (79.8)
 • Stands 5th all-time at NSU in free throw % (79.6), 14th in 3-point field goal % (36.4), 17th in 3-point field goal attempts (269) and 18th in 3-point field goals (98)
 • Ranks 10th in NSU D-I single-season records in 3-point field goal % (39.6) and 11th in free throw % (79.8)
 • Averaging 21.2 points on 28-of-58 shooting, 18-of-37 from deep, and 32-of-34 from the free throw line last 5 games played
 • Tied career high with 26 points at Florida A&M, shooting 4-of-6 from deep; marked 8th career 20-point game and 10th career game with at least 4 3-pointers
 • Made season-high 10-of-10 from the free throw line at FAMU, one of just eight times in NSU's D-I history a player had that many makes without a miss

Steven Whitley
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in steals (1.3), 11th in assists (3.6), assist-turnover ratio (1.2) and defensive rebounds (4.1), and 28th in scoring (9.5)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 9th in assists (4.7), 10th in assist-turnover ratio (1.5), 11th in steals (1.2), 13th in defensive rebounds (4.7), 16th in rebounding (5.5) and 28th in scoring (10.3)
 • Stands No. 230 in the nation in assists (3.6)
 • Ranks 6th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.21) and 18th in assists (236)
 • Ranks 13th in NSU D-I single-season records in assist average (3.57)
 • Averaging 6.5 assists last 4 games
 • Nearly had NSU's 1st triple-double in 32 years with season-highs 23 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists at Bethune-Cookman; 4th career 20-point game and hit career-high 7-of-11 from the free throw line

Jordan Butler
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.9), 7th in free throw % (80.5), 8th in rebounds (6.6) and defensive rebounds (4.6), 11th in field goal % (47.9), 12th in offensive rebounds (2.0) and 30th in scoring (9.0)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 3rd in blocks (1.9), 4th in free throw % (86.7), 6th in rebounds (7.9), 7th in defensive rebounds (5.6) and 9th in offensive rebounds (2.3) and field goal % (50.9)
 • Stands No. 52 in the nation in blocks (1.91), No. 156 in free throw % (80.5)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (207) and 9th in games played (118)
 • Ranks 9th in NSU D-I single-season records in free throw % (80.5) and 10th in blocks (42)
 • Averaging 8.0 rebounds and shooting 26-of-30 from the free throw line the last 10 games played, and 10.5 points last 2 games played on 14-of-19 shooting

Alex Long
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in field goal % (48.6) and 10th in blocks (0.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 13th in field goal % (47.8)
 • Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (123) and games played (123)

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (36.0) and 15th in assists (2.6)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 8th in free throw % (83.3)
 • Stands 18th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (36.0)
 • Averaging 10.5 points on 20-of-48 shooting, 9-of-20 from deep, last 6 games
 • 20-of-24 from the free throw line last 9 games

Kyonze Chavis
 • Averaging 6.3 points on 15-of-24 shooting with 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists last 6 games played

Joe Bryant Jr.
 • Averaging 4.6 points last 5 games on 8-of-19 shooting

BJ Fitzgerald
 • Made career-best 2-of-2 from deep at Bethune-Cookman with 10 points, 2nd career double-digit scoring game

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in blocks (4.3), 2nd in scoring margin (+3.8), free throw percentage (72.2), field goal percentage defense (42.0), 3-point field goal percentage (37.6) and 3-point field goals (7.9), and 3rd in scoring offense (73.8) and scoring defense (70.0).

In MEAC games only, NSU ranks 1st in scoring offense (77.0), scoring margin (+9.0) and 3-point field goal percentage (42.0), 2nd in free throw percentage (76.8), field goal percentage (46.0) and 3-point field goals (8.9), and 3rd in opponent rebounding (32.6), rebounding margin (+3.2) and defensive rebound percentage (71.1).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks No. 38 in turnovers forced (15.76), No. 43 in 3-point field goal percentage (37.6), No. 57 in blocks (4.3), No. 86 in field goal percentage defense (42.0), No. 112 in free throw percentage (72.2), No. 132 in scoring margin (+3.8), No. 138 in turnover margin (+0.8) and No. 142 in scoring defense (70.0) and won-lost percentage (56.0).

Conference Domination
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Norfolk State is 96-26 in regular season MEAC play, a 78.7 winning percentage. Among all D-I programs, NSU ranks 11th in the nation in conference winning percentage during that time.

At 96-26 (50-10 at home, 46-16 on the road), NSU is ahead of North Carolina Central (92-31) for the best record in the league since 2011. Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 106-32, while the Eagles are 105-35 during that time.

NSU also owns a 148-115 overall record since the start of the 2011-12 season, second in the conference to North Carolina Central (161-95).

Series Edge
NSU has a winning record against every school in the MEAC, with several of those series covering a lot of ground in the Division II era. The Spartans' closest rival over the years has been North Carolina A&T (25-22).

NSU Honors Former Players
During the Jan. 26 game against Maryland Eastern Shore, the Spartans honored their former players who had their numbers retired years ago 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.

In addition, former Spartan Kyle O'Quinn will have his No. 10 retired on Feb. 16 against North Carolina Central.