NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team looks to continue its historic start to the season when the Spartans meet rival Hampton University for the second time in less than a week. The Spartans and Pirates meet for the 138^th time in their history this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the HU Convocation Center.

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and broadcast on 91.1 FM.

The teams met on Nov. 28 in the first game of the Boost Mobile HBCU Challenge hosted by Chris Paul in Phoenix. NSU used a 13-2 spurt midway through the second half to take control of that one and overcome a six-point halftime deficit. Joe Bryant Jr. scored 20 points and Kris Bankston had 18. NSU now holds an 88-49 all-time record in the series.

In the Spartans' last outing, Dana Tate Jr. scored 17 points and had nine rebounds, while Jalen Hawkins added 16 points in a 74-69 win at UNC Wilmington on Wednesday. Those two had 33 of NSU's 40 bench points.

NSU-Hampton Tip-Ins

• NSU is 9-1 for the first time in its Division I history. The 1995-96 team was the last Spartan outfit to open a season 9-1. There hasn't been a team start 10-1 in NSU annals since the 1993-94 squad (which started 14-1).
• The 9-1 start is the best-ever start at the Division I level for any MEAC program past or present. Hampton went 8-1 to open the 2001-02 campaign, but lost its next contest.
• The Spartans have beaten teams from the Ohio Valley (Tennessee State), Mid-American (Bowling Green), CAA (William & Mary, UNCW), Big South (Hampton) and SWAC (Grambling) so far. That early-season success has the Spartans ranked 23rd in this week's Mid-Major Top 25 Poll by CollegeInsider.com.
• NSU has seven players averaging at least seven points per game, led by Bryant with 14.4, Bankston at 11.7, Christian Ings at 11.6 and Hawkins at 10.0.
• The Spartans have won all three MEAC Player of the Week Awards to date, with Bryant, Ings and Bankston winning the honor, in order.
• NSU ranks highly in the latest national statistical reports. Bankston is second in the country in field-goal percentage (76.9) while Bryant is eight in free-throw percentage (97.6). As a team, NSU is 12th in field-goal percentage defense (36.1), 28th in steals (9.9), 29th in defensive rebounds (29.7) and 33rd in field-goal percentage (48.7).
• Hampton went 0-2 in Phoenix with a 60-47 loss to Morgan State the day after they fell to the Spartans. The Pirates are now 2-6 on the season entering this weekend's matchup.
• Najee Garvin leads Hampton with 15.0 points per game.
• The Pirates have wins of Mid-Atlantic Christian and Regent this year, but have lost all six of their games against Division I competition.