NORFOLK, Va. - This weekend, Norfolk State closes out a stretch of six-of-eight games at home. The Spartan men's basketball team will first host Morgan State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall. The Bears are the last team NSU has not faced yet this year.

Battling for first place in the league, the Spartans will also take on Coppin State on Monday. At 7-2, they are currently a half game back of North Carolina Central (8-2) for the top spot in the conference. Following the game against CSU, NSU closes out the regular season with four of five games on the road.

Media Coverage
The games 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
Morgan State is one of the few teams in the league that has gotten the better of NSU at times in their recent history. The Spartans have won the last two after the Bears took three of four before that. Last year, NSU escaped with a 75-74 win at MSU to improve to 37-15 all-time. The Spartans have won the last three at Echols Hall.

After defeating Coppin State earlier this year in Baltimore, NSU has now won 13 in a row in the series dating back to the 2012-13 season. That has pushed the Spartans' all-time record against the Eagles to 32-11. CSU's last win came at Echols Hall in 2011-12. Since then, the Spartans have won six in a row at home over the Eagles.

Scouting the Opponents
Morgan State is currently fourth in the league standings at 7-4 behind NCCU, NSU and North Carolina A&T (8-3). The Bears own a 13-13 overall record in their first season under new head coach Kevin Broadus. All of their MEAC losses have been by nine points or less, including last Monday at home against North Carolina Central, 58-57.

The Bears are the league's top rebounding team with a +3.5 margin on the glass, and they average a league-best 12.7 offensive rebounds per game. They also pace the MEAC in blocks at 4.2. They score right around 70 points per game and have given up on average 71 points each time out, allowing teams to shoot just 40.9 percent from the floor.

Stanley Davis leads the team in points (13.4), rebounds (5.8) and assists (2.1) per game, shooting nearly 47 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line. Troy Baxter leads the MEAC in blocks (2.0) while averaging 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds. Sherwyn Devonish (10.2 points) also scores in double figures.

After losing their first four MEAC games, Coppin State has alternated wins and losses over its last seven. Most recently, it earned an overtime victory at home against Maryland Eastern Shore, 68-67. That bumped the team's record to 4-7 in the league and 8-18 overall.

The Eagles shoot just 39 percent overall and 27 percent from deep, some of the worst percentages in the nation. The trio of Koby Thomas (12.8 points, 7.0 rebounds), Andrew Robinson (12.4 points, 5.0 rebounds) and Dejuan Clayton (12.1 points, 3.6 assists) are the team's primary scorers. Brendan Medley-Bacon has reached double figures in rebounds in the last seven games, tallying 8.3 rebounds per game with 6.3 points.

Last Time Out
NSU exploded for 53 points in the second half, outscoring Delaware State by 22 during that time in a 85-57 win last Saturday at Joseph Echols Hall. NSU shot 13-of-36 from 3-point range and 44 percent overall. They forced 20 DSU turnovers and outscored the Hornets 27-6 in points off turnovers and 13-0 in fastbreak points.

Joe Bryant Jr. totaled 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting with four rebounds and four assists, and Devante Carter tallied a career-high 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting with eight rebounds and four assists. Jermaine Bishop (18 points, four rebounds, three assists) and Steven Whitley (11 points, eight rebounds, four steals, three assists) also had solid games.

Recent Trends
 • The team's 36 3-point attempts against Delaware State fell one short of the program record of 37 set two seasons ago. Only six other times in its history has NSU made more 3-pointers in a game than its total of 13 versus the Hornets.
 • NSU's scoring margin of +5.5 is on pace to be its best in its Division I era, topping last year's mark of +4.1. Its current field goal % defense of 40.2 and scoring defense of 64.9 are on pace to be the second best. In addition, the team's 3-point field goal % defense of 29.9 is currently third, and its 69.9 free throw shooting percentage is the fourth-best.
 • The Spartans are shooting 47.6 percent (137-of-288) from the floor the last five games, including 37.6 percent (44-of-117) from 3-point range.
 • They are averaging 8.7 3-pointers during the last 10 games. In the last nine games, opponents have shot just 28.2 percent from deep (53-of-188).
 • The Spartans are a total +52 on the glass during its last nine games (+5.8 per game).
 • NSU has outscored opponents in points off turnovers in 11 of the last 15, including six of the last seven. The Spartans have outscored or been even with opponents in second-chance points in eight straight and 10 of the last 12 games.
 • The Spartans have averaged 29.5 bench points the last six games, and 13.8 fastbreak points and 20.3 points off turnovers the last four games.
 • The Spartans are outscoring teams in every specialty stat category: points off turnovers (17.6-13.9), second-chance points (10.3-8.5), points in the paint (27.2-25.3), fastbreak points (10.4-7.9), and bench points (23.8-17.4).
 • The guard foursome of Bishop, Bryant, Whitley and Carter have combined for 61 of the team's 73 double-digit scoring performances this year.
 • NSU has used 10 different starting lineups this year, including seven different lineups during an eight-game span from Dec. 1-Jan. 4.
 • In 18 of the Spartans' 24 games this year, they have scored the same amount or more points in the second half than the first (+5.7 points per second half), including six of the last seven games. 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 18 of 24 games this year, including each of the last 14.
 • The Spartans also shoot better in second halves (44.4-40.8) and have a better turnover margin as well (+1.2 - +0.2). Opponents shoot better in second halves too (42.4-38.0). For NSU on the glass, it's the opposite, as its rebounding margin is +1.7 in first halves but +0.8 in second halves.
 • The Spartans have also had the same amount or more fouls than the opposition in 18 of 24 games this season (+1.8 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 margin (+5.5), and field goal % defense (40.2). They are also second in scoring defense (64.9), 3-point field goal % (33.5), opponent rebounding (34.1), rebounding margin (+2.5), turnover margin (+1.42), assist-turnover ratio (0.9), offensive rebound % (31.7), and 3-pointers (7.7), and third in free throw % (69.9), 3-point field goal % defense (29.9), assists (13.2), steals (7.5), and defensive rebound % (72.0).

In MEAC games only, they stand first in scoring margin (+12.1), 3-point field goal % (37.0), and 3-pointers (8.9), second in scoring defense (63.9), free throw % (71.1), opponent rebounding (31.4), rebounding margin (+5.8), assists (14.2), assist-turnover ratio (1.0), and offensive rebound % (34.7), and third in scoring offense (76.0), 3-point field goal % defense (28.2), and defensive rebound % (73.0).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State stands No. 35 in turnovers forced (16.04), No. 44 in 3-point field goal % defense (29.9), No. 57 in field goal % defense (40.2), No. 63 in scoring defense (64.9), No. 74 in steals (7.5), No. 82 in offensive rebounds (11.25), No. 87 in turnover margin (+1.5), No. 95 in scoring margin (+5.5), No. 108 in rebound margin (+2.5), No. 122 in rebounds per game (36.58), and No. 130 in 3-pointers per game (7.7).

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's eight of finishing in the top 4 of their respective conference standings.

They secured their second-ever MEAC regular season title last year at 14-2, joining the 2012-13 team that finished 16-0.

Player Facts
Steven Whitley
 • Tied season high with 4 steals against Delaware State
 • Ranks 8th all-time at NSU in assists (368) and assist average (4.04), and 11th in steals (137); Needs 19 more points to reach 1,000 for his NSU career
 • Stands 4th in the MEAC in in assist-turnover ratio (1.4), 6th in assists (3.3), 10th in steals (1.4), 14th in field goal % (44.1), and 18th in scoring (10.4)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 10th in assists (2.9), 15th in steals (1.2), and 29th in scoring (9.8)
 • Stands No. 243 in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (1.36)
 • Ranks 15th in NSU Division I season records in assist average (3.29)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 34 in steals (161), No. 45 in assist-turnover ratio (1.35), No. 47 in assists (405), No. 100 in games played (122), No. 154 in rebounds (532), and No. 248 in points (1,083)

Jermaine Bishop
 • Has scored in double figures in 10 straight games, averaging 16.7 points on 56-of-128 (43.8%) shooting, 34-of-81 (42.0%) from deep
 • Tied career high with 5 3-pointers vs. Delaware State; Tied school record held by two players with 15 3-point attempts that night
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in 3-point field goals (2.8), 5th in 3-point field goal % (38.3), 6th in scoring (14.0), 7th in minutes (32.7), and 15th in assists (2.3)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 2nd in 3-point field goals (3.3), 5th in scoring (16.7), 3-point field goal % (41.1) and free throw % (83.3), and 9th in minutes (33.8)
 • Stands No. 44 in the nation in 3-point field goals (2.79) and No. 46 in 3-point field goal % (38.3)
 • Ranks 8th in NSU Division I season records and 11th in overall records in 3-pointers (67), and 11th and 14th, respectively, in 3-point field goal attempts (175)
 • Also ranks 10th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (38.3)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 385 in 3-point field goals (111)

Joe Bryant Jr.
 • Had third career 20-point game with 20 against Delaware State
 • At 96.3% free throw shooting, is on pace to top the school record of 85.6% set by David Donerlson (1991-92), and the school's Division I record of 83.3% held by two players. Does not have enough attempts to qualify nationally; National leader is at 94.4%
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in free throw % (96.3), 6th in steals (1.6), 9th in 3-point field goals (1.6), 11th in 3-point field goal % (33.3), and 12th in scoring (12.6)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 1st in free throw % (100.0), 5th in steals (1.6), 10th in assists (2.9), 11th in 3-point field goals (1.7), and 14th in scoring (13.0) and in 3-point field goal % (32.6)
 • Stands No. 140 in the nation in steals (1.59)

Devante Carter
 • Averaging 16.5 points on 12-of-20 shooting with 6.0 rebounds last 2 games
 • Scored career-high 19 points against Delaware State, hitting career-best 6-of-8 from the free throw line
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in steals (1.7), 7th in field goal % (50.3), 9th in assists (2.9), 14th in rebounding (5.4) and defensive rebounds (4.1), and 25th in scoring (9.2)
 • In MEAC games only, stands 5th in assist-turnover (1.4), 8th in assists (3.1), 9th in steals (1.4), 11th in rebounding (6.1) and offensive rebounds (2.0), and 15th in defensive rebounds (4.1)
 • Stands No. 98 in the nation in steals (1.71)

Chris Ford
 • Ranks 5th in the MEAC in blocks (1.2)
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 11th in blocks (0.7) and 15th in offensive rebounds (1.9)
 • Stands No. 157 in the nation in blocks (1.18)

Kashaun Hicks
 • In MEAC games only, ranks 6th in 3-point field goal % (40.0)

Spirit Ricks
 • Posted career-high 2 steals versus Delaware State

Yoro Sidibe
 • Ranks 11th in the MEAC in offensive rebounds (1.7)

Tyrese Jenkins
 • Averaging 9.0 points last 6 games on 17-of-29 shooting, 8-of-15 from deep, with 2.5 rebounds
 • Tied career high with 2 steals against Delaware State