NORFOLK STATE [21-10, 11-3 MEAC] vs. COPPIN STATE [2-26, 1-13]
Date / Time	Wednesday, March 13, 2024 | 6 p.m.
Location	Norfolk, Va. | Norfolk Scope Arena
Tickets	Purchase Tickets Here
TV / Streaming	ESPN+
Radio	Hot 91.1 FM (WNSB)
Live Stats	statbroadcast.com
Game Notes	Norfolk State Notes
All-Time Series	NSU leads 41-15
First Meeting	NSU 77, CSU 56 [1983]
Last Meeting	NSU 68, CSU 66 [2024]
Current Winning Streak	NSU - 3
Social Media	Twitter - X | Instagram | Facebook

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team has its sight set on its third conference postseason title of the last four years, heading into the 2024 MEAC Tournament this week.
 
After earning the top seed in the tournament with an 11-3 conference record, 21-10 overall, the Spartans open postseason play at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, facing No. 8 seed Coppin State (2-26, 1-13 MEAC) in the quarterfinal round.
 
The Spartans enter the tournament on a two-game win streak, coming away victorious in five of their last six games.
 
Norfolk State closed out the regular season in dominant fashion, surging past Howard 77-58 in front of a national audience. The victory clinched the outright regular season title for the Spartans, as well as a 13-0 home record.

The 2024 MEAC Basketball Tournament will take place at the Norfolk Scope Arena from Mar. 13-16. The championship game will tip-off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, televised on ESPNU with the winner receiving the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
 
Tournament tickets are on sale now online via Ticketmaster.
 
Last Time Out

• Norfolk State sent its seniors out with a bang in their last game at Echols Hall, defeating Howard 77-58 on Thursday night
• The game was televised on ESPNU in front of a national audience
• The win clinched the outright MEAC Tournament Regular Season title for the Spartans
• Jamarii Thomas led NSU with 16 points, adding six rebounds and a steal
• Four Spartans scored in double figures: Thomas, Allen Betrand (13), Chris Fields Jr. (13), and Christian Ings (10)
• Jaylani Darden recorded career highs of six assists and three blocks

 
All-Time Series

• Norfolk State leads the all-time series with Coppin State 41-15, winning the last three matchups
• NSU swept the regular season series between the teams, earning a 68-58 home victory before a thrilling 68-66 win in Baltimore a month later
• Tyrese Jenkins fueled the Spartans in the second meeting with a career performance, scoring 21 points on seven 3-pointers
• Norfolk State met Coppin State in the 2023 MEAC Tournament Quarterfinals as well, cruising to a 73-56 win behind 25 points and four steals from senior guard Joe Bryant Jr.

Eagle Scout

• Coppin State enters postseason play as the No. 8 seed in the MEAC, owning a 2-26 overall and 1-13 MEAC record
• Four of the Eagles' conference losses have come by three points or less
• The Eagles are led by redshirt senior forward Justin Winston, averaging 13.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game
• Larry Stewart is in his first year as Coppin State's head coach

 
The Path Ahead

• Norfolk State must win three MEAC Tournament games to earn the program's fourth MEAC Tournament Championship
• If Norfolk State defeats Coppin State, the Spartans will play their semifinal game on Friday at 6 p.m. against the winner of Howard and Morgan State's Thursday matchup
• The MEAC Tournament Championship game will tip-off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 16, broadcast live on ESPN2

 
A New Standard

• Norfolk State earned its 20^th win of the season against Maryland Eastern Shore on Mar. 4, marking the Spartans' third consecutive season with 20+ wins
• The accomplishment signified Norfolk State's first three-year stretch of 20+ wins in its Division I history

 
Regular Season Champions

• Norfolk State clinched at least a share of the MEAC Tournament Regular Season title with a 69-50 win over Maryland Eastern Shore at Echols Hall
• The Spartans closed out the outright regular season championship with a 77-58 win over Howard to end the season
• The achievement marked NSU's fifth regular season title in program history, fourth under head coach Robert Jones' tenure

 
Postseason Success

• Norfolk State has played in the last four MEAC Tournament championship games, and five of the last six
• The last MEAC Tournament title bout without Norfolk State occurred on Mar. 10, 2018

 
House Protected

• Norfolk State finished the regular season with a 13-0 record at Echols Hall, the second undefeated home campaign of Jones' tenure (first achieved in 2021-22).
• The Spartans are one of 13 teams in Division I without a home loss this season
• Norfolk State and Princeton are the only schools in Division I with undefeated home records from both their men's and women's basketball teams this year
• The Spartans are 107-26 at home during Jones' head coaching career