NORFOLK, Va. - After having last year's tournament cut short before their first game due to COVID-19, the Spartans of Norfolk State men's basketball can take aim at the MEAC title once again beginning on Thursday. Tip-off against North Carolina Central in the MEAC Tournament quarterfinal round begins at approximately 8 p.m. at Norfolk Scope Arena.

The Spartans enter as the North No. 2 seed after tying Coppin State for the Northern Division title at 8-4. North Carolina Central is the South No. 3 seed after finishing third in the standings at 3-5 behind both North Carolina A&T and Florida A&M.

NSU carries the league's best overall record at 14-7. The Eagles went 5-8 overall this year.

Media Coverage
Fans can follow the action of the MEAC quarterfinal and semifinal rounds through FloHoops.com, with subscription plans starting at $12.50 per month. NSU's games in the tournament will also be broadcast live on WNSB Blazin' Hot 91 FM, with Ross Gordon on the call. The audio feed is available through www.TuneIn.com or the TuneIn Radio App (search for "WNSB").

Live stats can be accessed through MEAC.StatBroadcast.com.

Series History
The Spartans have the edge in the all-time series at 30-16, although the Eagles have won five of the last six games. They have met three times in the MEAC Tournament, with NCCU winning the last two in 2017 (67-59) and 2019 (50-47) in the tournament final. The Spartans were victorious over the Eagles in 2016 (66-47) in the quarterfinal round. The series first began in 1963-64 and was played on a regular basis from the late 1970's through the 1990's when both teams were members of the CIAA.

North Carolina Central at a Glance
The Eagles played just 13 games this year after having numerous games cancelled due to COVID-19. After winning the league's regular season title last year, they finished third in the division this year and are coming off a split with Florida A&M to close out the regular season last week. NCCU only averages 68 points per game, with first-team All-MEAC honoree C.J. Keyser the only double figure scorer at 16.4. Deven Palmer (9.8) and Jamir Moultrie (9.7) are the next two top scorers. As a team, NCCU forces nearly 16 turnovers per game, but the team struggles on the glass to the tune of a -5.3 rebound margin.

Last Time Out
Norfolk State wrapped up the regular season with a 72-51 non-conference win over St. Mary's College of Maryland on Feb. 28 at home. Devante Carter scored 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting to lead three players in double figures. The Spartans shot 51 percent from the floor and forced 20 turnovers. They outscored the Seahawks 36-12 in points in the paint and 11-2 in second-chance points. Jalen Hawkins (11) and Kyonze Chavis (10) also reached double figures, while for St. Mary's Micah Henry tallied 24 points on 11-of-18 shooting, 22 points in the second half.

Quick Hits
 • NSU's share of the MEAC Northern Division title this year marked the third regular season title for the program since joining the league. The Spartans won the regular season title in 2012-13 (16-0) and 2018-19 (14-2). Due to the pandemic, this year marked the first time the league split into divisions since NSU has been a member.
 • Norfolk State now sits 40th in the nation in turnovers forced (15.62), 45th in field goal percentage defense (40.9), and 51st in the nation in turnover margin (+2.5). They rank first in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense and defensive rebound percentage (72.4), second in scoring defense (70.0), rebounding (36.8), opponent rebounding (35.9), rebound margin (+0.9), turnover margin (+2.52) and scoring margin (+4.9), and third in defensive rebounds (26.4).
 • NSU currently stands 58th in the nation and first in the MEAC in 3-point shooting at 36.4 percent, a pace that is just behind the school's D-I record of 36.6 percent set in 2018-19. The top 3-point scorers are shooting better than 40 percent in Daryl Anderson (26-of-56, 46.4%) and Kashaun Hicks (30-of-75, 40.0%). Jalen Hawkins (21-of-49, 42.9%) is fourth on the team in makes, and Anderson ranks first in the MEAC in 3-point shooting. On offense, the Spartans are also second in the MEAC in scoring (74.9), and third in field goal percentage (43.5).
 • The team is up to 74.9 points per game, which would rank as the most since 1999-2000 (76.0) and the third-most in its D-I history. NSU is also currently on pace to finish first in its D-I history in turnover margin (+2.52), second in winning percentage (66.7%, 14-7), fewest turnovers per game (13.10) and scoring margin (+4.9), third in defensive rebounds per game (26.43), and fifth in free throw percentage (69.8) and field goal percentage defense (40.9).

MEAC Tournament History
NSU has been to the semifinals of the MEAC tournament nine times in the last 12 seasons, not counting last year's tournament that was cancelled before NSU's quarterfinal game. Including this season, the Spartans have been a No. 4 seed or better in 12 of the last 14 years. They have been to the finals four times in 2009, '12, '17 and '19. The 2012 team captured the program's only MEAC title.

Conference Domination
Since 2011-12, Norfolk State owns a 121-35 record in regular season MEAC play, a 77.6 winning percentage. Among all D-I programs, NSU ranks ninth in the nation in conference winning percentage during that time.

At 121-35 (65-13 at home - 40-6 since the start of the 2015-16 season - and 56-22 on the road), NSU is ahead of North Carolina Central (111-41) for the best record in the league during that time. Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 133-42, while the Eagles are 128-45.

NSU owns a current 186-140 overall record since the start of the 2011-12 season, second in the conference to North Carolina Central (190-119).

Conference Standings
Including this season, the Spartans have finished fourth or better in the MEAC standings in 14 of the last 15 seasons, including 10 straight years. Only nine other teams in Division I have a longer streak than NSU of finishing in the top 4 of their respective conference standings.

Conference Streak
NSU has posted 23 straight seasons with a .500 or better conference record in its Division I era. In fact, in Norfolk State's 66 seasons in either the EIAC, CIAA or the MEAC, the program has had just one losing conference record (9-10 in the CIAA in 1990-91).

NSU ranks fifth in the nation for the longest streak of .500-or-better conference records in a row in D-I, trailing only Murray State, Kansas, Gonzaga and Duke. NSU has posted 29 straight .500 or better conference records, dating back to that 1990-91 campaign.

Every other team in the MEAC has had at least one losing conference record since 2017-18.