NORFOLK, Va. - For just the second time ever, the Norfolk State men's basketball team will enter the MEAC tournament as the No. 1 seed. With it comes a quarterfinal contest against No. 9 seed South Carolina State on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. at Scope Arena.

The Spartans captured the regular season title this year at 14-2. The Bulldogs are coming off a 63-54 win over No. 9 seed Maryland Eastern Shore on Tuesday night in the first round of the tournament after going 5-11 this year in the league.

The team's only other appearance as the No. 1 seed came in 2013, when the Spartans were upset in the quarterfinal round by Bethune-Cookman in overtime, 70-68.

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").

The game can be seen on FloHoops.com, which is broadcasting every game of the MEAC tournament except the final. Fans can follow along with the live stats.

Series History
Norfolk State won this year's only regular season meeting, 74-69, on the road after trailing by nine in the second half and by four with five minutes remaining. That ran NSU's win streak to six over the Bulldogs, as well as nine of the last 10, and 25-18 overall in the series.

S.C. State's last win against the Spartans came in the MEAC tournament semifinals in 2016, 67-65. NSU fell behind by 21 and nearly won after taking the lead in the last minute of the game before the Bulldogs prevailed. The Spartans are 3-2 all-time against S.C. State in the MEAC tournament. This year will mark the fourth time in five years the two teams will have met in the tourney.

Scouting South Carolina State
The Bulldogs finished in a tie for ninth in the MEAC standings this year at 5-11, 8-25 overall. They lost their last four regular season games before defeating Maryland Eastern Shore on Tuesday. Four of S.C. State's five MEAC wins came in home-and-home sweeps of Morgan State and Coppin State.

South Carolina State averages right around 70 points per game, shooting 43 percent overall and 33 percent from deep. The Bulldogs fair well at the free throw line, connecting on 74 percent from the charity stripe. Opponents, however, make 49 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range.

Second-team All-MEAC honoree Damani Applewhite leads the way with 16.7 points and 7.5 rebounds, shooting 51 percent from the floor. Janai Raynor-Powell is second on the team with 10.2 points, while Lavar Harewood (8.7 points), Ozante Fields (8.6 points, 4.9 rebounds) and Jahmari Etienne (8.4 points, 54 3-pointers) are also names to watch.

Last Time Out
A high-scoring second half - the teams combined for 117 points - came to a close last Thursday at Joseph Echols Hall with Howard draining a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left. That shot by R.J. Cole, from more than 30 feet out, gave the Bison a 98-95 win over the Spartans in both team's season finale.

Cole finished with 36 points while shooting 10-of-19 overall, including 7-of-10 from deep, as well as 9-of-11 from the free throw line. Charles Williams also had 27 points for the Bison, hitting 9-of-14 from the floor and 3-of-6 from deep. HU finished with 15 3-pointers on the night.

NSU made 11-of-31 from deep and 46 percent overall. Five players scored in double figures, including Mastadi Pitt and Nic Thomas with 20 points each. Each shot 6-of-12 from the floor, and Thomas was also 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Pitt secured his first career double-double with 10 assists as well. Alex Long contributed 18 points for the Spartans, making 7-of-8 from the field with six rebounds.

Season Trends
 • The Spartans secured their second-ever MEAC regular season title this year, joining the 2012-13 team that finished 16-0. NSU finished the year with the second-most wins ever in MEAC play (14)  next to that undefeated season.

 • The Spartans are also on the cusp of a 20-win season, which would be their fourth since joining Division I. They had 26 wins in 2011-12, 21 in 2012-13 and 20 in 2014-15.

 • NSU's 95 points against Howard were the most by the Spartans in a regulation game against a D-I opponent since scoring 99 at Coppin State on Feb. 21, 2015. Howard's 98 points were the most scored against NSU by a MEAC team in regulation since Bethune-Cookman tallied 111 on Jan. 31, 2000. In addition, the combined 193 points were the most in a MEAC game involving NSU since Feb. 1, 1999 in a 104-90 win at Delaware State.

 • The Spartans are currently hitting 37.2 percent from deep, a pace that would top the D-I record of 35.9 percent set last year. With 245 3-pointers, they are also taking aim at the school record of 254 set last year as well. Since the win over UTEP, a span of 19 games, the Spartans are shooting 40.2 percent from 3-point range (166-of-413).

 • At 74.6 points per game, NSU is on pace for its highest scoring average since the 1999-2000 season (76.0) and the third highest in the D-I era. Its +5.0 scoring margin is also on pace to top the previous D-I best of +3.9 set in 2014-15. In addition, the team's 71.7 percent clip from the free throw line currently stands as the third-best in the D-I era behind the 72.0 mark in 2003-04.

 • The Spartans are also inching closer to the school D-I record for points (2,494, need 186) and the overall school records for 3-point attempts (707, need 49) and personal fouls (712, need 43).

 • NSU is outscoring teams 16.6 - 14.7 in points off turnovers, 28.1 - 24.8 in points in the paint, and 8.0 - 5.6 in fastbreak points on the year. NSU is also averaging 32.8 points in the paint, 11.0 second-chance points, 9.0 fastbreak points and is +46 in rebounds the last 5 games.

 • NSU has had the same amount or more fouls than the other team in 24 of 31 games (+2.2 per game).

 • In 24 of 31 games, the Spartans have scored the same or more points in the second half than the first (+8.4), including 49.0 second half points the last 3 games. They shoot better in the second half (47.8 - 40.4), as do opponents (42.8 - 38.4). NSU is also -0.8 on the glass in the first half and +1.4 in the second.

Player Facts
Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • 2nd-Team All-MEAC
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (50.6), 4th in 3-point field goals per game (2.5), 7th in field goal % (49.8) and 18th in scoring (10.5)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 1st in 3-point field goal % (57.6), 2nd in 3-point field goals (3.1), 7th in field goal % (53.8) and 16th in scoring (12.8)
 • Stands 1st in the nation in 3-point field goal % (50.6, 1.7 percentage points ahead of the No. 2 player) and No. 102 in 3-point field goals per game (2.55)
 • Ranks 3rd all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (44.8), 5th in 3-point field goals (154) and 10th in 3-point field goal attempts (344)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, stands 6th in 3-point field goal % (44.8) and No. 233 in 3-pointers (154)
 • Ranks 1st in NSU D-I single-season and overall records in 3-point field goal % (50.6), and 1st in D-I and 2nd in overall season records in 3-pointers (79)
 • Tied career high with 2 blocks vs. Howard

Nic Thomas
 • 2nd-Team All-MEAC
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.6) and 3-point field goal % (39.8), 8th in free throw % (81.8) and 7th in scoring (14.6)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 2nd in free throw % (87.1), 6th in 3-point field goals (2.7) and 3-point field goal % (43.2) and 7th in scoring (15.5)
 • Stands No. 57 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (39.8), No. 100 in 3-point field goals per game (2.55), and No. 114 in free throw % (81.8)
 • Stands 5th all-time at NSU in free throw % (80.8), 13th in 3-point field goals (111), 3-point field goal attempts (301) and 3-point field goal % (36.9)
 • Ranks 8th in NSU D-I single-season and 13th in overall records in free throw % (81.8), 5th in D-I and 6th in overall records in 3-point field goals (74), 6th in D-I and 8th in overall records in 3-point field goal attempts (186), and 9th in D-I records in 3-point field goal % (39.8)
 • Averaging 16.9 points on 49-of-114 shooting, 31-of-69 from deep, and 57-of-62 from the free throw line last 11 games played
 • Tallied 20 points against Howard, shooting 5-of-8 from deep; Marked 9th career 20-point game and 11th career game with at least 4 3-pointers
 • Had career-high 7 rebounds at Delaware State; Averaging 5.3 rebounds last 4 games

Steven Whitley
 • 3rd-Team All-MEAC
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in assists (4.0), 9th in steals (1.3), 11th in assist-turnover ratio (1.3) and defensive rebounds (4.3) and 28th in scoring (9.3)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 4th in assists (5.1), 8th in assist-turnover ratio (1.6), 9th in defensive rebounds (4.9), 11th in steals (1.2) and 17th in rebounding (5.7)
 • Stands No. 150 in the nation in assists (4.0)
 • Ranks 5th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.37) and 16th in assists (271)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 139 in assists (308) and No. 441 in rebounds (385)
 • Ranks 7th in NSU D-I single-season records in assists (117) and assist average (4.03)
 • Averaging 6.8 rebounds last 8 games and 6.1 assists last 10 games

Jordan Butler
 • 3rd-Team All-MEAC; Became the 8th Spartan player to earn all-MEAC honors twice (including all-rookie team)
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.9), 9th in defensive rebounds (4.5), 10th in free throw % (79.2), 11th in rebounds (6.3), and 13th in offensive rebounds (1.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 3rd in blocks (1.9), 7th in free throw % (81.8), 10th in defensive rebounds (4.9) and 11th in rebounds (6.7)
 • Stands No. 50 in the nation in blocks (1.89) and No. 176 in free throw % (79.2)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (218) and 5th in games played (124); Needs 3 more rebounds to reach No. 20 on the all-time list
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 7th in blocks (218), No. 36 in block average (1.76), No. 65 in rebounds (696) and No. 183 in games played (124)
 • Ranks 7th in NSU D-I single-season and 10th in overall records in blocks (53) and 14th in D-I records in free throw % (79.2)

Alex Long
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in field goal % (49.6) and 11th in blocks (0.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 9th in field goal % (50.0)
 • Stands 3rd all-time at NSU in games played (129), 4th in blocks (126) and 36th in points (1,020)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 84 in games played (129) and No. 108 in rebounds (623)
 • Averaging 10.5 points and 1.5 assists last 5 games
 • Made 1st career 3-pointer against Howard

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 13th in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (34.0), 14th in assists (2.7) and 27th in scoring (9.3)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 28th in scoring (10.0)
 • Averaging 17.0 points on 23-of-44 shooting and 4.3 assists last 4 games
 • Set career high with 10 assists in career-high 36 minutes against Howard; Had 20 points for 4th career 20-point game and 1st career double-double

C.J. Kelly
 • MEAC All-Rookie Team

Armani Branch
 • Averaging 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds last 5 games
 • Scored 11 points against Howard, his 4th 10-point game of the season

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in scoring margin (+5.0), field goal percentage defense (40.5), 3-point field goal percentage (37.2) and blocks (4.4), 2nd in 3-point field goals (7.9), and 3rd in scoring offense (74.6), field goal percentage (44.2), defensive rebounds (26.7) and defensive rebound percentage (71.6).

In MEAC games only, NSU ranked 1st in scoring margin (+9.5) and field goal percentage defense (39.1), 2nd in scoring offense (77.3), field goal percentage (45.5), 3-point field goal percentage (39.6), rebounding margin (+4.1), defensive rebounds (27.8), defensive rebound percentage (72.4), blocks (3.9) and 3-point field goals (8.6), and 3rd in free throw percentage (74.0), rebounding (38.1), opponent rebounding (34.1) and assists (14.3).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks No. 27 in field goal percentage defense (40.5), No. 29 in turnovers forced (15.61), No. 44 in blocks (4.4), No. 51 in 3-point field goal percentage (37.2), No. 67 in defensive rebounds (26.71), No. 87 in 3-point field goal percentage defense (32.7), No. 96 in won-lost percentage (61.3), No. 97 in scoring margin (+5.0), No. 121 in scoring offense (74.6), No. 122 in rebounds (36.42), No. 131 in scoring defense (69.5) and No. 136 in free throw percentage (71.7).

MEAC Tournament History
NSU has been to the semifinals of the MEAC tournament eight times in the last 11 seasons. The Spartans have been a No. 4 seed or better in 10 of the last 12 years.

All-Conference
NSU had five all-conference players this year, the most ever for the program since joining the MEAC in 1997. The Spartans twice had three all-conference players for their previous best. They have also had at least one all-MEAC player in 15 of the last 16 years.

C.J. Kelly became the eighth All-Rookie Team member for NSU since joining the league, and Robert Jones won the program's second-ever Coach of the Year award.

Conference Standings
The Spartans have finished fourth or better in the MEAC standings in 12 of the last 13 seasons, including eight straight years. Only 13 other teams in Division I have a longer streak than NSU of finishing in the top 4 of their respective conference standings (see table page 7).

Conference Streak
This year, NSU secured its 21st straight season with a .500 or better conference record in its Division I era. In fact, in Norfolk State's 64 seasons in either the EIAC, CIAA or the MEAC, the program has had just one losing conference record (9-10 in the CIAA in 1990-91).

NSU ranks eighth in the nation for the longest streak of .500-or-better conference records in a row in D-I (See table page 7). NSU has posted 27 straight .500 or better conference records, dating back to that 1990-91 campaign.

Every other team in the MEAC has had at least one losing conference record since 2014-15.

Postseason History
This year, NSU will make its seventh postseason appearance in its Division I era (1997-Present), and all will have come since 2012. It started with the NCAA tournament in 2012 after the Spartans won their first-ever MEAC title. NSU went to the NIT in 2013 after winning the conference's regular season title at 16-0. NSU also faced Eastern Michigan (2014), Eastern Kentucky (2015), Columbia (2016) and Liberty (2017) in the CollegeInsider.com tournaments.

This year, NSU will either play in the NCAA tournament or the NIT.