NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State is searching for its fourth-ever MEAC tournament finals berth. The No. 1 seed Spartan men's basketball team can get there with a win on Friday night against No. 4 seed Howard in the semifinal round at Scope Arena beginning at 6 p.m.

The Spartans earned a quarterfinal win over South Carolina State on Wednesday, 78-73, after being down by 11 early in the second half. The Bison defeated No. 5 seed Bethune-Cookman 80-71 on Thursday evening.

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
Friday will serve as a rematch after Howard defeated NSU at Joseph Echols Hall on March 7, 98-95. The Spartans won the first meeting this year at HU, 80-78, erasing a 24-point deficit. Howard ended a six-game losing streak to NSU with the victory last week. The Spartans still own the edge in the series, 45-11.

The two teams have met three times in the MEAC tournament, in 2011, '12 and '17. The Spartans defeated the Bison in the quarterfinals in 2012 and the semifinals in 2017, advancing to the championship game both years.

Scouting Howard
The Bison finished 10-6 in the MEAC this year and in a tie for third with North Carolina Central. They come in riding a five-game win streak, including the last four of the regular season all on the road. Howard owns the MEAC's top scoring offense at 79.5 points per game.

MEAC Player of the Year R.J. Cole had 23 points in the win over Bethune-Cookman on Thursday. He has led the team in scoring each of the last 10 games. That includes a 36-point game against NSU last week and 29 points in the first meeting this year with the Spartans. He averages 21.7 points and 6.3 assists, shoots 39 percent from deep and 82 percent from the free throw line, and has gotten to the charity stripe 243 times this year.

Charles Williams is no slouch either, as the first-team All-MEAC player averages 18.4 points while hitting 37 percent from deep, 45 percent overall and 86 percent from the foul line. Chad Lott, a third-team all-conference selection, tallies 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds as well. The Bison shoot 36 percent from 3-point range and 72 percent from the free throw line and are +2.7 in turnover margin.

Last Time Out
Norfolk State fell behind by eight at the half, and by 11 early in the second half, but the Spartans came away with the win in the end in a 78-73 victory over No. 9 seed South Carolina State on Wednesday evening in the quarterfinal round. It was a tight second half, one in which NSU led for the last 7:44 but never by more than the final margin of five. NSU outscored S.C. State 47-34 after halftime.

Nic Thomas had a career-high 30 points, shooting 7-of-16 overall and 5-of-10 from deep. He also made 11-of-14 from the free throw line and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 25.7 seconds left in the game to break a 73-73 tie. Mastadi Pitt added 17 points as well and joined Thomas as the only two NSU players in double figures.

The Spartans had a season-low eight turnovers, and they outscored the Bulldogs 19-7 in fastbreak points. South Carolina State (8-26 overall) shot 6-of-10 from deep and 48 percent overall in the first half. The Bulldogs also made 23-of-29 from the free throw line. Ian Kinard had 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead the way.

Season Trends
 • NSU has now been to the semifinals of the MEAC tournament nine times in the last 12 seasons. The Spartans have been a No. 4 seed or better in 10 of the last 12 years as well. The Spartans are searching for their fourth-ever trip to the finals along with the 2009, '12 and '17 teams.

 • 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. In 2013, their only other time as a No. 1 seed in the tournament, the Spartans were upset in the quarterfinal round by Bethune-Cookman in overtime, 70-68.

 • The Spartans also secured a 20-win season this year, their fourth since joining Division I. They had 26 wins in 2011-12, 21 in 2012-13 and 20 in 2014-15.

 • The Spartans are currently hitting 36.7 percent from deep, a pace that would top the D-I record of 35.9 percent set last year. With 251 3-pointers, they are also three away from tying the school record of 254 set last year as well. Since the win over UTEP, a span of 20 games, the Spartans are shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point range (172-of-438).

 • At 74.7 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 71.9 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 108) and the overall school records for 3-point attempts (707, need 24) and personal fouls (712, need 17).

 • NSU is outscoring teams 16.5 - 14.6 in points off turnovers, 27.9 - 24.8 in points in the paint, and 8.3 - 5.6 in fastbreak points on the year. NSU is also averaging 31.0 points in the paint, 11.3 second-chance points, 10.7 fastbreak points and is +42 in rebounds the last 6 games.

 • NSU has had the same amount or more fouls than the other team in 25 of 32 games (+2.3 per game).

 • In 25 of 32 games, the Spartans have scored the same or more points in the second half than the first (+8.6), including 48.5 second half points the last 4 games. They shoot better in the second half (47.8 - 40.3), as do opponents (42.8 - 38.7). NSU is also -0.8 on the glass in the first half and +1.3 in the second.

Player Facts
Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (50.0), 4th in 3-point field goals per game (2.5), 8th in field goal % (49.8) and 19th in scoring (10.4)
 • 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 % (50.0, 1.1 percentage points ahead of the No. 2 player) and No. 123 in 3-point field goals per game (2.50)
 • Ranks 3rd all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (44.5), 5th in 3-point field goals (155) and 10th in 3-point field goal attempts (348)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, stands 7th in 3-point field goal % (44.5) and No. 231 in 3-pointers (155)
 • Ranks 1st in NSU D-I single-season and overall records in 3-point field goal % (50.0), 1st in D-I and 2nd in overall season records in 3-pointers (80) and 15th in D-I record in 3-point attempts (160)

Nic Thomas
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.6), 4th in 3-point field goal % (40.3), 6th in scoring (15.1) and 8th in free throw % (81.5)
 • 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. 50 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (40.3), No. 88 in 3-point field goals per game (2.63), and No. 121 in free throw % (81.5)
 • Stands 5th all-time at NSU in free throw % (80.7), 11th in 3-point field goals (116), 12th in 3-point field goal % (37.3) and 13th in 3-point field goal attempts (311)
 • Ranks 2nd in NSU D-I single-season and 3rd in overall records in 3-point field goals (79), 4th in D-I and 6th in overall records in 3-point field goal attempts (196), 7th in D-I and 15th in overall records in 3-point field goal % (40.3) and 8th in D-I records in free throw % (81.5), 
 • Averaging 18.0 points on 56-of-130 shooting (43.1%), 36-of-79 from deep (45.6%), and 68-of-76 (89.5%) from the free throw line last 12 games played, and 4.6 rebounds last 5 games
 • Tallied career-high 30 points against South Carolina State, shooting 5-of-10 from deep; Marked 10th career 20-point game and 12th career game with at least 4 3-pointers
 • Program's 1st 30-point game since Jonathan Wade had 31 on Jan. 28, 2017

Steven Whitley
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in assists (4.0), 11th in assist-turnover ratio (1.3) and defensive rebounds (4.4), 12th in steals (1.3) and 30th in scoring (9.2)
 • 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. 157 in the nation in assists (4.0)
 • Ranks 6th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.35) and 15th in assists (274)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 138 in assists (311) and No. 432 in rebounds (392)
 • Ranks 7th in NSU D-I single-season records in assists (120) and assist average (4.00)
 • Averaging 6.8 rebounds last 9 games and 5.8 assists last 11 games

Jordan Butler
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (1.9), 10th in defensive rebounds (4.4), and 11th in free throw % (79.2) and rebounds (6.1)
 • 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. 47 in the nation in blocks (1.93) and No. 179 in free throw % (79.2)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (221), 5th in games played (125) and 20th in rebounding (699)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 7th in blocks (221), No. 35 in block average (1.77), No. 62 in rebounds (699) and No. 166 in games played (125)
 • Ranks 6th in NSU D-I single-season and 8th in overall records in blocks (56) and 14th in D-I records in free throw % (79.2)

Alex Long
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in field goal % (49.8) 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 (130), 4th in blocks (128) and 36th in points (1,028)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 64 in games played (130) and No. 102 in rebounds (628)
 • Averaging 10.5 points and 1.5 assists last 5 games

Mastadi Pitt
 • Ranks 13th in the MEAC in assists (2.8) and free throw % (76.7), 15th in 3-point field goal % (32.4) and 24th in scoring (9.6)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 28th in scoring (10.0)
 • Averaging 17.0 points on 28-of-59 shooting, 2.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists last 5 games
 • Played in career-high 37 minutes against South Carolina State

Armani Branch
 • Averaging 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds last 6 games

Kyonze Chavis
 • Tied career high with 4 rebounds vs. South Carolina State (March 13)

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense (40.6) and blocks (4.4), 2nd in scoring margin (+5.0), 3-point field goal percentage (36.7), defensive rebound percentage (71.5) and 3-point field goals (7.8), and 3rd in scoring offense (74.7), free throw percentage (71.9), field goal percentage (44.2), defensive rebounds (26.5).

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. 30 in field goal percentage defense (40.6), No. 28 in turnovers forced (15.63), No. 42 in blocks (4.4), No. 68 in 3-point field goal percentage (36.7), No. 80 in defensive rebounds (26.53), No. 94 in 3-point field goal percentage defense (32.8), No. 92 in won-lost percentage (62.5), No. 97 in scoring margin (+5.0), No. 118 in scoring offense (74.7), No. 128 in rebounds (36.28), No. 132 in scoring defense (69.7), No. 130 in free throw percentage (71.9) and No. 136 in turnover margin (+0.8).