NORFOLK, Va. – Coming off a 12-day scheduled break and a split at S.C. State and N.C. Central, the Norfolk State men's basketball team is looking to finish the MEAC regular season strong, beginning with a pair of games against Maryland-Eastern Shore and Delaware State.
The Spartans host Hawks on Saturday, February 12 inside Echols Hall at 6 p.m. before traveling to Dover, Del. On Monday, February 14 for a game against the Hornets from Memorial Hall Gym at 7:30 p.m.
The Spartans (15-5, 6-1 MEAC) are the only team in the conference with less than two MEAC losses. MDES enters the game with a 3-4 MEAC record and 8-10 overall record after picking up a 58-50 win over DSU on Wednesday evening. The Hornets remain winless in the MEAC at 0-7 following their loss to the Hawks and are 2-18 overall.
NSU vs. MDES/DSU Tip-Ins
- Senior Joe Bryant Jr. continues to lead the MEAC in scoring with 332 points. He increased his average to 16.2 points per game after a 22-point performance at S.C. State and 18 at N.C. Central. He also leads the MEAC (third nationally) with a 93.3 free-throw percentage.
- Bryant is now only eight points away from reaching 1,000 for his career. He would become the 38th player in Spartan history to eclipse the career milestone.
- Redshirt Senior Kris Bankston leads NSU with 134 rebounds this season with his 6.7 rebounds per game average is second best in the MEAC.
- NSU has kept its past eight opponents to under 45% shooting from the floor. This includes two of the past three to under 40% with Morgan State (31%) and NCCU (38%).
- MDES ranks second in the MEAC in team defense, allowing only 65.8 points per game. The Hawks however are only scoring a sixth-best in the conference 67.9 ppg.
- Only one player for MDES averages double-digit points. Dom London is scoring 11.2 points per game.
- The Hawks are 3-4 in the MEAC but are 2-1 on the road against conference opponents this season.
- DSU ranks eighth in the MEAC in scoring offense (60.3) and sixth in defense (72.4) for a league worst -12.1 scoring differential.
- Myles Carter (14.9) and Dominik Fragala (12.1) are in double figure scoring for the Hornets. Carter also leads DSU with a team-best 5.75 rebounds per game.
- DSU is 0-7 in the MEAC and is currently on a 15-game losing streak, dating back to a 67-63 loss to UNC Wilmington on November 20, 2021. Their two wins on the season came against Division III Cairn University (80-41) and NCCAA member Regent University (84-30).
