NORFOLK, Va. - Two teams tied at 3-1 in the MEAC Northern Division will face off in Baltimore this weekend. The Norfolk State men's basketball team travels up to Maryland to take on Coppin State this Saturday and Sunday. Both games will tip-off at 1 p.m. at CSU's Physical Education Complex.

NSU enters the contest at 8-4 while the Eagles carry an overall 4-9 mark. Both teams have swept Delaware State and split with Morgan State to come to their 3-1 MEAC record.

Media Coverage
The games will be shown live through the CSU webpage. Live stats will be available through Coppin State's athletics website.

Series History
The Spartans will look to extend their 14-game win streak against Coppin State, a run that dates back to NSU's MEAC Championship squad in 2011-12. The Eagles last defeated the Spartans 87-82 at NSU's Joseph Echols Hall on Jan. 30, 2012. CSU has gone even longer since winning at home, having lost 11 in a row to the Spartans since a 77-70 victory during the 2006-07 season. NSU leads the overall series 33-11.

Scouting the Opponent
The Eagles struggle shooting the ball, ranking as one of the worst teams in the nation in field goal percentage (38.4), 3-point shooting (29.0) and free throw shooting (60.7). They do make nearly nine 3-pointers per game, thanks in part to Kyle Cardaci, who averages nearly three per game while tallying 10.2 points. Anthony Tarke (16.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.3 steals) is one of the MEAC's top players. Dejuan Clayton (15.7 points) and Koby Thomas (12.8 points, 6.1 rebounds) are two more players teams must keep an eye on. Coppin State is third-to-last in the nation in rebounding margin (-14.2), but the Eagles do excel in forcing turnovers (18.2 per game, 10th in the nation).

Last Time Out
NSU swept last weekend's series at Delaware State, earning an 87-76 victory on Saturday at DSU's Memorial Hall before winning game 2 in overtime on Sunday, 83-79. The Spartans shot nearly 57 percent in the first game, hitting 13-of-23 from 3-point range. They also dominated the boards (36-23) while getting a career-high 21 points from Tyrese Jenkins and 15 points from both Devante Carter and Joe Bryant Jr. The same three players scored in double figures in Sunday's game, led by Bryant's 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists. The Spartans shot 26-of-38 from the free throw line and overcame a 29-point effort from DSU's Pinky Wiley, who sank seven 3-pointers. Game 2 featured a combined 56 fouls, 30 from Delaware State. It marked the most by a Spartan opponent in nearly four years.

Quick Hits
 • In the overtime win at Delaware State on Jan. 17, NSU rallied from a last-minute deficit for the second time this year. They did the same in a victory at George Mason.
 • Norfolk State now sits 30th in the nation in field goal percentage defense (39.2) and 75th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (30.7). They sit first in the MEAC in scoring defense (71.3) and field goal percentage defense, second in 3-point field goal percentage defense and rebound margin (-2.1), and third in blocks (3.7).
 • So far this year, seven of NSU's 12 opponents have been held to less than 40 percent overall shooting, with only two hitting better than 43 percent in a game.
 • NSU currently sits 21st in the nation and first in the MEAC in 3-point shooting at 39.4 percent. The top five 3-point scorers are all shooting better than 40 percent in Kashaun Hicks (17-of-36, 47.2%), Daryl Anderson (17-of-32, 53.1%), Joe Bryant Jr. (14-of-31, 45.2%), Tyrese Jenkins (14-of-34, 41.2%), and Jalen Hawkins (9-of-20, 45%). Anderson is first in the MEAC in 3-point shooting.
 • Devante Carter is currently seventh in the MEAC in scoring (14.2) and sixth in rebounding (5.6) and assists (3.6). He is one of three players in the league along with Anthony Tarke of Coppin State and MJ Randolph of Florida A&M in the top 10 in all three categories.
 • The Spartans are getting more than 30 points per game from their bench this year. They have outscored all 12 opponents in bench points, and for the year they are outscoring teams 33.6-19.2 per game.
 • NSU has outscored 10 of 12 opponents in points off turnovers, and for the year the Spartans hold a 17.0-13.6 edge in points off turnovers.
 • This year, the Spartans have had the same amount or fewer fouls than the opposition in 10 of 12 games. Last year it was the opposite, as the Spartans had the same amount or more fouls in 22 of 31 games.
 • NSU is becoming adept at second half surges. This season, the team has scored the same amount or more points in second halves than first halves in eight of 12 games, including six of the last seven. The Spartans are averaging +5.0 more points in second halves.
 • In the last six games, the Spartans are averaging 44.7 second-half points.

Winning Record
NSU has had eight non-losing seasons in the last nine years. Prior to the start of that streak, NSU had a .500 or better overall record just twice in 14 seasons since moving to Division I in 1997.

Ahead at the Half
The Spartans are 140-30 (82.4 winning percentage) since the start of the 2011-12 season when leading or tied at the half.