NORFOLK STATE [13-8, 3-1 MEAC] vs. HOWARD [8-11, 3-0 MEAC]
Date / Time	Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 | 12:30 p.m.
Location	Norfolk, Va. | Echols Hall
Tickets	Purchase Tickets Here
NSU Game Notes	Norfolk State Notes
Live Stats	nsuspartans.com
TV	ESPNU
Live Stream	espn.com/watch
All-Time Series	NSU leads 52-15
First Meeting	NSU 90 HU 79 [1967-68]
Last Meeting	HU 80, NSU 74 [2023-24]
Series Current Streak	HU - 1
Social Media	Twitter - X | Instagram | Facebook

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team enters Echols Hall on Saturday with a chance to regain its seat atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) standings.
 
The Spartans (13-8, 3-1 MEAC) host Howard (8-11, 3-0) at 12:30 p.m. looking to hand the Bison their first loss of conference play. Playing in front of a national audience, the game will be televised on ESPNU.
 
Norfolk State dominated from start to finish in a 105-42 blowout victory over Washington Adventist on Monday evening, getting major contributions from its bench. Melo Baines and Jordan Leaks logged career highs of 16 and 13 points, respectively, while Brian Moore Jr. led the Spartans with 20 points on a 7-of-10 shooting day.
 
Kuluel Mading logged 16 points and 11 rebounds against the Shock for his second career double-double, first in a Spartan uniform. Norfolk State outrebounded Washington Adventist 53-31, its second-best margin on the glass this season.
 
After getting off to a tremendous start in MEAC play –earning high-scoring victories over Delaware State, Morgan State, and Coppin State – Howard's momentum has come to a complete halt with back-to-back losses against Division II opponents. The Bison fell 76-73 to Bowie State last week, before dropping a neck-and-neck 79-76 matchup with Morehouse on Monday.
 
Freshman phenom Blake Harper leads Howard this season, averaging a team-best 18.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The Washington D.C. native has won all 11 MEAC Rookie of the Week awards for the 2024-25 campaign.
 
Derek Jones and John Williams will call Saturday's game on ESPNU, while Ross Gordon and Woube Gebre will provide radio coverage on WNSB 91.1 FM.
 
LAST TIME OUT

• Norfolk State improved to 13-8 with a 105-42 win over Washington Adventist on Monday, closing out the Spartans' nonconference slate
• Brian Moore Jr. led the Spartans with 20 points, adding eight rebounds and seven assists as well
• Melo Baines and Jordan Leaks also scored in double figures with 16 and 11 points, respectively
• The Spartans shot 38-of-64 from the field (59.4 percent)
• Norfolk State shot 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) from behind the arc
• Norfolk State's bench outscored Washington Adventist's 43-14

SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will mark the 68th meeting between the Norfolk State and Howard men's basketball programs
• Norfolk State leads the all-times series between the schools 52-15
• Norfolk State won both regular season matchups against the Bison last season, before falling to Howard in the MEAC Tournament semifinals
• Marcus Dockery led the Bison to the postseason victory in 2024 with 19 points, going 5-of-6 from behind the arc

BISON SCOUT

• Howard enters Saturday's game with an 8-11 record, 3-0 in MEAC play
• The Bison earned high-scoring victories over Delaware State, Morgan State, and Coppin State
• HU has lost two consecutive games, both against Division II opponents
• Freshman phenom Blake Harper leads the Bison with 18.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game