NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team continues its December on the road with a matchup at Wichita State on Saturday evening. Tip time is 7 p.m. at Koch Arena, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

The game is another in a series of challenges away from home this month for NSU (9-2). The December slate takes NSU to Wichita this week, Loyola of Chicago next, and New Mexico and Campbell later in the month.

NSU had its four-game win streak snapped in heart-breaking fashion on Saturday, as Hampton got an off-balanced 30-foot heave from Russell Dean at the buzzer to shock the Spartans 58-57. Joe Bryant Jr. led the way with 15 points and Jalen Hawkins had 14 to pace the Spartans, who shot 34.5 percent from the floor.

Despite the setback, the Spartans are still in the midst of their best-ever start as a Division I program. NSU remained 23^rd in this week's Mid-Major Top 25 Poll released by CollegeInsider.com.

Wichita State is 6-2 on the year following a 65-59 setback at Kansas State on Sunday. That snapped a three-game win streak for the Shockers, who defeated Oklahoma State, Missouri and UNLV previously. Morris Udeze scored 19 points to lead WSU against Kansas State. Morris (10.3) is one of three double-figure scorers this year for the Shockers, with Tyson Etienne leading the way at 15.6 points per game and Ricky Council following at 10.4.

NSU-Wichita State Tip-Ins 

• 9-2 represents NSU's best 11-game start in its Division I era (since 1997-98). The previous best two starts? Robert Jones' first team as head coach began 8-3 in 2013-14, and the 2011-12 team started 7-4 en route to the school's first-ever MEAC title. 
• The Spartans' opened the year 9-1, which was the best-ever 10-game start for any MEAC team in the league's Division I history. 
• Hawkins is heating up for the Spartans, reprising his role as high-scoring sixth man for the Spartans from last year. He has scored 30 points in the last two games, with 16 at UNCW and 14 at Hampton. 
• NSU and Wichita State have never faced each other. The Spartans are still looking for their first-ever win against teams currently in the American Athletic Conference. NSU is 0-7 all-time against current AAC teams, including 0-2 against both UCF and East Carolina, and 0-1 against Cincinnati, Tulane and USF. 
• The Spartans continue to get it done defensively, ranking 12^th in the country in field goal defense (36.7), 24^th in defensive rebounds (29.5) and 43^rd in steals (9.2). NSU leads the MEAC in each of those categories as well as scoring defense (62.5 ppg allowed). 
• Among individuals, Joe Bryant Jr. ranks 10^th nationally in free-throw percentage (93.6). Kris Bankston is shooting 76.1 percent from the floor this year, which would lead the country if he had one more made basket to qualify for the rankings. 
• Etienne was tabbed the preseason AAC Player of the Year earlier this year. Wichita State was predicted to finish fourth in the AAC in the preseason poll. 
• WSU finished 16-6 last year and advanced to the NCAA tournament, losing to Drake by a single point in its opening game.