NORFOLK, Va. - It is back to the road for the Norfolk State men's basketball team, which travels up to Howard for a Saturday afternoon MEAC contest looking to start 3-0 in the league. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Burr Gymnasium. It will mark the 12th game away from home for NSU in its last 14 contests.

NSU's last game was also away from home, a win on Monday night at Coppin State. This year marks the first time since 2011-12 the Spartans have had that short of a turnaround between MEAC overnight trips (with a return home in-between). That year, Norfolk State played at Florida A&M on a Monday and then at North Carolina A&T on a Thursday to close out the regular season.

The year before in 2010-11, the Spartans played at Coppin State on a Monday and then at Maryland Eastern Shore the following Saturday.

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

The game can also be seen with the MEAC's package of games on FloHoops, one of two road games for NSU this year on FloHoops.com. Fans can also follow along with the live stats.

Series History
NSU and Howard split the regular season meetings last year, both in dramatic fashion. The Spartans rallied from 24 down to top Howard at Burr Gym, 80-78, on Feb. 2. The Bison won the last game of the regular season at NSU's Joseph Echols Hall on March 7, 98-95, on R.J. Cole's 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left. The Spartans then topped the Bison in the MEAC Tournament, 75-69, to stretch their lead in the all-time series to 46-11. They have won 17 of the last 19.

Scouting the Opponent
The Bison fell to both Maryland Eastern Shore and Bethune-Cookman last weekend to start MEAC play, dropping to 2-14 overall on the season. Their only Division I so far under first-year head coach Kenneth Blakeney was a 94-91 triumph in overtime at Hampton.

Opponents are shooting nearly 49 percent from the floor against the Bison, 36 percent from deep, while averaging 82 points per game. They also are +6.1 in rebound margin against Howard, which averages 68 points. The Bison are even in turnover margin, forcing and giving it away 13.6 times a game.

Charles Williams, a career 2,000-point scorer, leads the way with 18.3 points per game, while Wayne Bristol is also in double figures at 10.9 points. Other top scorers include Kyle Foster (8.4 points), Khalil Robinson (6.4) and Nate Garvey (6.1). Zion Cousins adds 5.9 points with a team-best 7.3 rebounds.

Last Time Out
The Spartans shot nearly 48 percent from the floor, hitting 13 3-pointers on the way to an 82-59 win over Coppin State on Monday at CSU's Physical Education Complex. The Eagles made just 38 percent from the floor and were outrebounded 42-28.

Jermaine Bishop scored 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting, 5-of-9 from deep. Joe Bryant Jr. added 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting with three 3-pointers. Spirit Ricks added a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards, and Kashaun Hicks nearly did the same with 12 points and eight rebounds. NSU outscored the Eagles 11-4 in second-chance points.

Andrew Robinson hit five 3-pointers and led CSU with 18 points. Dejuan Clayton totaled 12 points, and Koby Thomas added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Recent Trends
 • The Spartans are averaging 9.3 3-pointers during the last 3 games, including 13 at Coppin State, tied for the seventh-most in a game in school history.
 • They have used eight different starting lineups this year, including seven different lineups during an eight-game span from Dec. 1-Jan. 4.
 • NSU has outscored opponents in fastbreak points in seven of the last eight games, as well as points off turnovers in five of the last eight.
 • The Spartans are outscoring teams in every specialty stat category: points off turnovers (17.7-14.5), second-chance points (9.6-8.9), points in the paint (28.1-24.7), fastbreak points (11.4-8.2), and bench points (22.2-18.4). The Spartans are averaging 10.4 second-chance points the last five games.
 • NSU is averaging 12.8 turnovers the last five games while forcing 15.2 during that time.
 • The Spartans have shot 74.1 percent (103-of-139) from the free throw line the last nine contests.
 • The guard foursome of Bishop, Bryant, Whitley and Carter have combined for 42 of the team's 50 double-digit scoring performances this year, including 29 of the last 32.
 • In 12 of the Spartans' 17 games this year, they have scored the same amount or more points in the second half than the first (+5.1 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 11 of 17 games this year, including each of the last seven.
 • The Spartans also shoot better in second halves (44.3-39.2) and have a better turnover margin as well (+1.6 - +0.0). Opponents shoot better in second halves too (42.7-37.8).
 • The Spartans have also had the same amount or more fouls than the opposition in 14 of 17 games this season (+3.2 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 (65.5), scoring margin (+3.5), field goal % defense (40.2), and defensive rebound % (72.0). They are also second in 3-point field goal % defense (30.2), rebounding margin (+1.5), turnover margin (+1.59), and offensive rebound % (30.7), and third in 3-point field goal % (32.5), assists (12.9), assist-turnover ratio (0.9), offensive rebounds (11.2), and 3-pointers (7.4).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State stands No. 59 in turnovers forced (16.00), No. 70 in 3-point field goal % defense (30.2), No. 81 in steals (7.8), No. 92 in field goal % defense (40.2), No. 97 in scoring defense (65.5), No. 105 in turnover margin (+1.6), and No. 109 in offensive rebounds (11.18).

Conference Domination
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Norfolk State is 103-27 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.

Player Facts
Steven Whitley
 • Averaging 13.1 points (35-of-72 shooting) and 5.3 rebounds last 7 games
 • Ranks 7th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.17), 9th in assists (350) and 16th in steals (128)
 • Stands 3rd in the MEAC in assists (3.6), 5th in assist-turnover ratio (1.2), 11th in steals (1.4), 14th in field goal % (44.2), 14th in offensive rebounds (1.5), and 20th in scoring (10.9)
 • Stands No. 207 in the nation in assists (3.6)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 30 in steals (152), No. 38 in assists (387), No. 66 in games played (115), No. 129 in rebounds (501), and No. 211 in points (1,019)

Jermaine Bishop
 • Averaging 18.3 points last 3 games on 20-of-46 shooting, 12-of-26 from deep
 • Tied career high with 5 3-pointers for 21 points at Coppin State, 7th career 20-point game and 3rd of the season
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goals (2.6), 7th in minutes (32.5) and 3-point field goal % (37.5), 9th in scoring (13.2), and 14th in assists (2.3)
 • Stands No. 75 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (37.5) and No. 75 in 3-point field goals (2.65)

Joe Bryant Jr.
 • Averaging 18.3 points last 4 games on 26-of-53 shooting, 8-of-19 from deep
 • Tied career high with 4 assists at Coppin State
 • Had second career 20-point game with 21 against Bethune-Cookman
 • Made his 1st 20 free throws of the season and 40 out of 42 so far
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in free throw % (95.2), 6th in 3-point field goal % (37.8), 7th in 3-point field goals (1.8), and 10th in steals (1.5) and scoring (13.1)
 • Stands 3rd in the nation in free throw % (95.2) and No. 221 in steals (1.50)

Chris Ford
 • Shooting 11-of-14 last 6 games
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in blocks (1.3)
 • Stands No. 129 in the nation in blocks (1.29)

Kashaun Hicks
 • Averaging 8.0 points last 5 games on 12-of-21 shooting, 7-of-12 from deep
 • Grabbed season-high 8 rebounds at Coppin State
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (43.2)

Spirit Ricks
 • Averaging 8.3 points and 6.0 rebounds last 3 games
 • Had first career double-double with career-highs 12 points (5-of-6 free throws), 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 28 minutes played at Coppin State