NORFOLK, Va. - Six of the next eight games will be at home for the Norfolk State men's basketball team, and it starts this Saturday. The first-place Spartans take on Maryland Eastern Shore at 6:30 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall.

NSU stands 3-0 in the league, tied with North Carolina A&T atop the league standings. The Spartans will be home four of the next five weekends during this eight-game span, beginning with the 1-2 Hawks.

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon and Woube Gebre on the call. The audio feed is available through www.TuneIn.com or the TuneIn Radio App (search for "WNSB").

Fans can also follow along with the live stats and the live video feed. The live video feed also carries the radio broadcast.

Series History
NSU has won the last five meetings with Maryland Eastern Shore, pushing its all-time record against the Hawks to 47-17, 32-6 since joining the MEAC. The Spartans' last loss to the Hawks also came at home, 82-64 during the 2014-15 season.

Scouting the Opponent
The Hawks have limped out to a 2-16 record this year, 1-2 in the league. Their win over Howard to start conference play is their only Division I victory of the season so far. Maryland Eastern Shore's most recent performance was more positive, taking North Carolina Central to overtime at home before coming up short.

It has been a struggle on offense this year, as MDES averages just 55 points per game, shooting 35 percent overall and 25 percent from deep. All three marks rank either last or second-to-last in the nation. Opponents are tallying 74 points per game.

AJ Cheeseman and Ty Gibson are tied for the team lead with 7.9 points per game, which includes 17 against Howard and 19 versus N.C. Central for Cheeseman. He also leads the team in rebounding at 5.3. In addition, Da'Shawn Phillip averages 6.8 points, and Canaan Bartley tallies 6.5 as well.

Last Time Out
The Spartans held Howard to 38 percent shooting, and Jermaine Bishop hit 5-of-7 from deep for 20 points as NSU topped the Bison 71-63 last Saturday at HU's Burr Gymnasium. The Spartans won their third in a row despite hitting just 40 percent from the field.

Steven Whitley added 16 points with five rebounds, five assists and two steals, and Devante Carter piled up 10 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists as well. Howard got 17 points from Nate Garvey (5-of-8 from deep) and 14 from leading scorer Charles Williams. NSU won the rebounding battle, 41-34, and was 20-of-27 from the free throw line.

Recent Trends
 • The Spartans are averaging 8.8 3-pointers during the last 4 games, including 13 at Coppin State, tied for the seventh-most in a game in school history.
 • They are shooting 44.1 percent (79-of-179) from the floor and are total +24 on the glass over the last 3 games
 • NSU has outscored opponents in fastbreak points in seven of the last nine games, as well as points off turnovers in six of the last nine.
 • The Spartans are outscoring teams in every specialty stat category: points off turnovers (17.4-14.1), second-chance points (9.9-9.0), points in the paint (28.0-24.4), fastbreak points (10.8-8.1), and bench points (21.8-17.9). The Spartans are averaging 11.0 second-chance points the last six games.
 • The Spartans have shot 74.1 percent (123-of-166) from the free throw line the last 10 contests.
 • The guard foursome of Bishop, Bryant, Whitley and Carter have combined for 45 of the team's 53 double-digit scoring performances this year, including 32 of the last 35.
 • NSU has used eight different starting lineups this year, including seven different lineups during an eight-game span from Dec. 1-Jan. 4.
 • In 13 of the Spartans' 18 games this year, they have scored the same amount or more points in the second half than the first (+5.0 points per second half). They did the same in 28 of 36 games last year, when they averaged 8.1 points more in second halves than first halves. Opponents have done the same in 12 of 18 games this year, including each of the last eight.
 • The Spartans also shoot better in second halves (43.9-39.4) and have a better turnover margin as well (+1.4 - +0.2). Opponents shoot better in second halves too (42.6-37.7).
 • The Spartans have also had the same amount or more fouls than the opposition in 14 of 18 games this season (+2.8 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 (65.3), scoring margin (+3.8), field goal % defense (40.1), 3-point field goal % (32.4), and defensive rebound % (71.9). They are also second in 3-point field goal % defense (30.1), rebounding margin (+1.8), and turnover margin (+1.56), and third in opponent rebounding (34.9), assist-turnover ratio (0.9), offensive rebounds (11.3), offensive rebound % (31.1), and 3-pointers (7.4).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State stands No. 50 in turnovers forced (16.00), No. 63 in 3-point field goal % defense (30.1), No. 75 in steals (7.8), No. 72 in field goal % defense (40.1), No. 85 in scoring defense (65.3), No. 95 in turnover margin (+1.6), No. 95 in offensive rebounds (11.28), No. 145 in rebound margin (+1.8) and No. 149 in rebounds per game (36.72).

Player Facts
Steven Whitley
 • Averaging 13.5 points (39-of-79 shooting) and 5.3 rebounds last 8 games
 • Ranks 7th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.18), 9th in assists (355) and 16th in steals (130)
 • Stands 3rd in the MEAC in assists (3.7), 4th in assist-turnover ratio (1.3), 12th in steals (1.4), 15th in field goal % (44.8) and offensive rebounds (1.5), 19th in scoring (11.2), and 20th in rebounding (4.8)
 • Stands No. 193 in the nation in assists (3.7) and No. 242 in steals (1.44)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 33 in steals (154), No. 40 in assists (392), No. 77 in games played (116), No. 136 in rebounds (506), and No. 220 in points (1,035)

Jermaine Bishop
 • Averaging 18.8 points last 4 games on 26-of-57 shooting, 17-of-33 from deep
 • Tied career high with 5 3-pointers for 20 points at Howard, 8th career 20-point game, 4th of the season, and 2nd in a row
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goals (2.8), 5th in 3-point field goal % (39.4), 8th in minutes (32.3), 9th in scoring (13.6), and 15th in assists (2.2)
 • Stands No. 49 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (39.4) and No. 53 in 3-point field goals (2.78)

Joe Bryant Jr.
 • Averaging 16.4 points on 29-of-61 shooting and 2.0 assists last 5 games
 • Made his 1st 20 free throws of the season and 43 out of 45 so far
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in free throw % (95.6), 8th in 3-point field goals (1.6), 9th in 3-point field goal % (35.4), 10th in steals (1.5), and 11th in scoring (12.9)
 • Stands 2nd in the nation in free throw % (95.6) and No. 230 in steals (1.47)

Devante Carter
 • Had 2nd double-double of the season with 10 points and career-high 10 rebounds at Howard
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in field goal % (54.0), 2nd in steals (1.9), 10th in assists (2.7), 13th in rebounding (5.3), 14th in defensive rebounds (4.2), and 27th in scoring (9.1)
 • Stands No. 70 in the nation in steals (1.93)

Chris Ford
 • Shooting 14-of-20 last 7 games; Averaging 5.7 points last 3 games
 • Grabbed career-high 7 rebounds in career-best 25 minutes at Howard
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in blocks (1.3)
 • Stands No. 134 in the nation in blocks (1.28)

Kashaun Hicks
 • Averaging 7.0 points last 6 games on 13-of-27 shooting, 7-of-17 from deep

Spirit Ricks
 • Averaging 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds last 4 games