EL PASO, Texas – Following a 108-52 rout of Southern Virginia on Monday night at Echols Hall, the Norfolk State men's basketball team heads to Texas with championship aspirations.
Norfolk State will compete in the 2023 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational this week in El Paso, the program's fourth appearance in the four-team mid-season tournament. The Spartans will face the host school, UTEP, on Wednesday at 7 p.m. MST (9 p.m. EST) in the opening round of competition at the Don Haskins Center.
The Spartans will play either South Dakota State or Wyoming the following day, in the championship or third place game. NSU has played in the tournament's title game twice, coming up short on both occasions.
"Anytime you have a chance to win a championship, you should try to win one," Norfolk State head coach
Robert Jones said. "There is a championship game on Thursday night, so we want to be in that game and that's what we're striving to do. It's a good mid-major tournament."
UTEP has lost back-to-back road games against quality opponents, falling 71-49 at Oregon before dropping a tight matchup at Abilene Christian on Sunday, 88-82. The Miners are led by senior guard Tae Hardy, averaging 15.5 points per game.
Norfolk State's opening-round showdown at UTEP will be streamed live on the Sun Bowl Association YouTube channel.
Last Time Out
- George Beale Jr. led the Spartans with a season-best 16 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the floor
- Six Spartans scored in double figures: Beale, Kuluel Mading (!5), Jaylani Darden (14), Chris Fields Jr. (13), Daryl Anderson (11), and Daman Tate
- Darden shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the field
- Norfolk State led the Spartans on the glass with nine rebounds
- Norfolk State's 44 made field goals tied the program's Division I record
- NSU improved to 32-1 under head coach Robert Jones when five or more Spartans score in double figures
Tournament Trivia
- This week marks the 62nd edition of the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, taking place annually since 1961
- The tournament did not take place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Kent State won the event in 2022
- UTEP has won the tournament 32 times
NSU at the Sun Bowl
- The Spartans have made three appearances at the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl invitational, advancing to the title game on two occasions
- Norfolk State last competed in the event in 2018, beating UTEP 75-62 before falling 89-61 in the championship game
- Derrik Jamerson was named to the All-Tournament Team that year
- The Spartans own a 2-4 overall record at the tournament
Series History
- Norfolk State is 2-1 in the all-time series against UTEP, all three meetings occurring at this tournament
- The Spartans defeated the Miners 75-62 on Dec. 21, 2018, behind 24 points from Mastadi Pitt
- UTEP's last win against the Spartans came on Dec. 28, 2009, a 93-56 result
Miner Scout
- UTEP is 6-5 this season, coming off a pair of losses to tough road competition
- The Miners are 5-1 at home
- UTEP is led by senior guard Tae Hardy, averaging 15.5 points per game
Looking Ahead to What's Next
The Spartans will wrap up the 2023 calendar year with the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. A talented for awaits the Spartans on the road to open 2024, facing No. 8 Tennessee at 7 p.m. on Jan. 2.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
