NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team returns home from its final MEAC road trip of the season for its final three regular-season games. The Spartans host the Bulldogs of S.C. State on Saturday at 6 p.m. before the Eagles of N.C. Central visit Echols Hall on Monday for 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

NSU (18-6, 9-2 MEAC) split its two conference games of the weekend. The Spartans opened with a 30-point win over Coppin State. Redshirt senior Jalen Hawkins had a season-high 21 points while senior Joe Bryant Jr. tied his season high with a game-high 29 points. Senior Kris Bankston had a game-high 12 rebounds to pace the Spartan defense that gave up only 59 points, the lowest allowed since 58 points against MD-Eastern Shore on January 17.

On Monday, NSU dropped just their second MEAC game of the season in a 85-74 loss at Morgan State. Three Spartans scored in double figures with Bryant having a game-high 20 points with Hawkins and Bankston adding 18 and 12 points, respectively.

Redshirt junior Dana Tate Jr. had a game-high eight rebounds against the Bears.

SCSU (15-12, 7-4 MEAC) comes into the game on a two-game winning streak after getting a pair of home wins over MD-Eastern Shore and Delaware State last weekend. The Eagles overcame a 16-point deficit against DSU on Saturday to win in overtime before dropping a 13-point game against MDES on Monday evening. NCCU (14-12, 7-3 MEAC) plays at Howard on Saturday before traveling to Norfolk on Monday.

NSU vs. SCSU/NCCU Tip-Ins

• Bryant extended his lead in the MEAC scoring average over the weekend, averaging 24.5 points over the two games on the road. He is now averaging 16.9 points per game.
• His 107 free-throws made is atop the MEAC while his 92.2 free-throw percentage is not only leading the conference but ranks fifth nationally.
• Hawkins' 21 points against the Eagles was his best this season. His career-high was 24 in the First Four win over Appalachian Sate last season in the NCAA Tournament.
• Bankston leads the Spartans with 11 rebounds, a 4.6 average on the season. He also has 27 blocks for 1.1 blocks per game.
• SCSU scored 70+ points in both their games last weekend. The Bulldogs had only reached 70 points in one of its previous seven games.
• TJ Madlock leads SCSU in scoring, averaging 12.0 ppg while adding 5.3 rebounds a contest. Edward Oliver-Hampton has grabbed 165 boards in his 26 games this season for 6.3 rpg.
• Justin Wright leads NCCU in scoring with 331 points and averages 13.2 a game. Kris Monroe is atop the Eagles in rebounding with 154 and 5.9 per game.
• NCCU split its two games winning in overtime but fell by 13 at home to MDES, 79-66.
• The 66 points scored against MDES was the lowest point total for the Bulldogs since a 68-51 loss against Sam Houston.