NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State men's basketball team faces perhaps its most challenging MEAC road trip of the year when the Spartans head to the state of Florida this weekend riding an eight-game win streak. NSU will take on Bethune-Cookman on Saturday at 4 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. contest on Monday night at Florida A&M.

NSU's two opponents are riding a wave of momentum after they each swept North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central last weekend at home. The Spartans sit alone in first place in the league at 8-0, followed by FAMU (7-2) and A&T (6-2). The next five teams have four losses in league play.

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").

Fans can follow along with Bethune-Cookman's live stats and its live video feed. Monday's contest will be shown live on ESPNU, available online through the WatchESPN app. Fans can also follow along with Florida A&M's live stats.

Series History
NSU won the first meeting this year against the Wildcats, 75-68 at home on Jan. 14, thanks to career-high scoring nights from Derrik Jamerson Jr. and Kyonze Chavis. The Spartans have won three in a row over the Wildcats, including a season sweep a year ago, and lead the all-time series, 22-13.

It's now a 20-9 advantage for NSU over Florida A&M after winning the first contest this year, 72-62 on Jan. 7 at home. The Spartans have now won 15 in a row over the Rattlers, with their last win in the series taking place all the way back in 2006-07 at home, 81-71.

Scouting Bethune-Cookman
The Wildcats got back on track with last weekend's sweep, improving to 5-4 in the league and 10-13 overall. Their four MEAC losses have all been by single digits and all came on the road. Four of the team's five wins have been at home.

Malik Maitland did not play in the last matchup between NSU and Bethune-Cookman, but he averaged 16.0 points last weekend and leads the team in scoring at 12.7. Cletrell Pope tallies 12.3 points and 12.3 rebounds, the latter ranking second in the nation. Mark Gordon (10.3 points) also reaches double figures, while Shawntrez Davis (8.9 points, 5.2 rebounds) and Soufiyane Diakite (8.6 points, 5.8 rebounds) also play a part.

They help the Wildcats to a +3.2 rebounding margin, second in the conference, and nearly 73 points per game. They do turn the ball over on average 15.6 times per game, and they only shoot 32 percent from deep and 59 percent from the free throw line. Opponents, though, only hit 40 percent overall and 29 percent from 3-point range.

Scouting Florida A&M
Like Bethune-Cookman, the Rattlers got a big boost after sweeping the North Carolina schools last weekend by a combined 40 points. FAMU has won five in a row, which also includes wins at Coppin State and Morgan State. The Rattlers own a 10-14 overall record and a 7-2 MEAC mark.

They only give up 67 points per game, as teams shoot 43 percent overall and 30 percent from deep. FAMU leads the league in 3-point shooting at 38.8 percent, although the team scores just 63 points per game with a -3.7 rebounding margin.

Justin Ravenal is the only player in double figures at 15.8 points per game, shooting 46 percent overall and 48 percent from deep with 81 totals 3-pointers. Kamron Reaves is next at 8.3 points, and M.J. Randolph contributes 7.9 as well while shooting 54 percent overall.

Last Time Out
NSU came back from 24 points down in the second half to defeat Howard 80-78 on Saturday night at HU's Burr Gymnasium. The Spartans never led in the game until Mastadi Pitt hit a pair of free throws with 2.1 seconds left. Howard was up by 15 at halftime and 24 early in the second half before NSU secured its biggest comeback in 11 years and head coach Robert Jones' 100th career win.

The Spartans made just 30 percent in the first half and 41 percent overall, while the Bison shot 50 percent for the game, including 7-of-15 from 3-point range. NSU, however, outscored Howard 50-33 in the second half. The Spartans also outscored the Bison 23-9 in points off turnovers and 21-9 in second-chance points thanks to 16 offensive rebounds.

Seniors Jordan Butler and Derrik Jamerson Jr. combined for 31 points in the second half. Butler had 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and 10 rebounds, while Jamerson finished with 20 points thanks in part to 4-of-6 3-point shooting. Howard's R.J. Cole totaled 20 points in the first half and 29 for the game.

Season Trends
 • The team's 24-point comeback at Howard marked the biggest since another 24-point comeback win at Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 9, 2008.

 • NSU's 18 3-pointers against Maryland Eastern Shore broke the previous school record of 14, set four different times in the last several years. 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 37.5 percent from deep, a pace that would top the Division I record of 35.9 percent set last year. At 74.0 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 eight-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 8-0 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 10 teams (through Wednesday) still without a loss in conference play along with Lipscomb, Villanova, Princeton, Washington, Tennessee, Wofford, Sam Houston State, Prairie View A&M and Gonzaga.

 • In the last 13 games, the Spartans are hitting 42.1 percent from deep (118-of-280). They are also shooting 46.9 percent overall (238-of-507) and 77.4 percent from the free throw line (144-of-186) line the last 9 games.

 • NSU is averaging 7.5 steals on 16.0 opponent turnovers the last 5 games.

 • The Spartans have had the rebounding edge in 7 of the last 9 games (+43).

 • NSU is outscoring teams 17.1 - 15.1 in points off turnovers, 27.7 - 26.3 in points in the paint, and 7.9 - 6.5 in fastbreak points on the year. The Spartans have tallied 19.0 points off turnovers the last 6 games and 14.3 second chance points the last 4 games.

 • NSU has had more fouls than the other team in 17 of 23 games (+2.7 per game).

 • In 17 of 23 games, the Spartans have scored more points in the second half than the first (+7.8). They also shoot better in the second half (47.1 - 41.2), as do opponents (44.0 - 40.3). NSU is also -1.1 on the glass in the first half and +0.7 in the second.

 • The Spartans are currently 4-9 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 % (50.0), 3rd in 3-point field goals per game (2.7), 10th in field goal % (49.4) and 18th in scoring (10.9)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 1st in free throw % (100.0) and 3-point field goal % (60.8), 2nd in 3-point field goals (3.9), 5th in field goal % (55.7) and 6th in scoring (16.1)
 • Stands 1st in the nation in 3-point field goal % (50.0) and No. 95 in 3-point field goals per game (2.65)
 • Ranks 4th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (43.9), 7th in 3-point field goals (136) and 12th in 3-point field goal attempts (310)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, stands 13th in 3-point field goal % (43.9), No. 50 in 3-point field goals per game (2.43) and No. 244 in 3-pointers (136)
 • Ranks 1st in NSU D-I single-season and overall records in 3-point field goal % (50.0), as well as 10th in D-I and 15th in overall season records in 3-pointers (61)
 • Averaging 16.1 points last 8 games on 39-of-70 shooting, 31-of-51 from deep, and 20-of-20 from the free throw line
 • Has made his last 22 free throw attempts
 • Had 20 points at Howard in career-high 39 minutes for 6th career 20-point game; Made career-high 6-of-6 from the free throw line; Also shot 4-of-6 from deep, his 19th career game with at least 4 treys

Steven Whitley
 • Ranks 9th in the MEAC in steals (1.3), 11th in assists (3.3) and assist-turnover ratio (1.1) and 14th in defensive rebounds (3.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 9th in assist-turnover ratio (1.5) and 10th in assists (4.4)
 • Ranks 7th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.15) and 18th in assists (224)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 166 in assists (261) and No. 490 in rebounds (331)
 • Ranks 13th in NSU D-I single-season records in assist average (3.33)
 • Has 14 assists last 2 games, including season-high 8 against Maryland Eastern Shore

Alex Long
 • Ranks 9th in the MEAC in field goal % (49.4) and blocks (0.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 13th in field goal % (50.0)
 • Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (122) and games played (122)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 48 in games played (122) and No. 91 in rebounds (591)

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (36.6) and 14th in assists (2.6)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 5th in free throw % (86.4) and 13th in 3-point field goal % (35.7)
 • Stands 14th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (36.3)
 • Averaging 13.3 points on 16-of-33 shooting, 8-of-16 from deep, last 4 games
 • 19-of-22 from the free throw line last 7 games

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in scoring margin (+3.9) and blocks (4.4), 2nd in field goal percentage defense (42.0) and 3-point field goal percentage (37.5), and 3rd in scoring offense (74.0), scoring defense (70.1), free throw percentage (72.0), field goal percentage (44.3), defensive rebound percentage (70.9) and 3-point field goals (8.0).

In MEAC games only, NSU ranks 1st in scoring offense (78.5), scoring margin (+10.8), free throw percentage (77.2), 3-point field goal percentage (42.6) and opponent rebounding (31.5), 2nd in field goal percentage (47.0), rebounding margin (+4.7), defensive rebound percentage (71.2) and 3-point field goals (9.4), and 3rd in assists (14.5) and assist-turnover ratio (0.9).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks 40th in 3-point field goal percentage (37.5), No. 45 in turnovers forced (15.57), No. 52 in blocks (4.4), No. 92 in field goal percentage defense (42.0), No. 115 in free throw percentage (72.0), No. 133 in scoring margin (+3.9) and No. 144 in scoring defense (70.1).

March to 100
Head coach Robert Jones secured his 100th career win on Feb. 2 at Howard. It gave him the most of any NSU coach in the Division I era, topping the 99 Anthony Evans had from 2007-13. He is one of five coaches in NSU history to have accumulated 100 wins.

Conference Domination
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Norfolk State is 95-25 in regular season MEAC play, a 79.2 winning percentage. Among all D-I programs, NSU ranks eighth in the nation in conference winning percentage during that time.

At 95-25 (50-10 at home, 45-15 on the road), NSU is ahead of North Carolina Central (90-31) for the best record in the league since 2011. Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 105-31, while the Eagles are 103-35 during that time.

NSU also owns a 147-114 overall record since the start of the 2011-12 season, second in the conference to North Carolina Central (159-95).

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).

Winning the State
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, NSU has the fourth-most wins (147) among the 14 Division I schools in the state of Virginia. The Spartans trail Virginia (208), VCU (193) and Old Dominion (159).