WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team heads to the nation's capital this week for a crucial finale with a regular season championship on the line.
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The Spartans (20-10, 10-3 MEAC) face Howard (12-18, 7-6) on Thursday, Mar. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in a showdown at Burr Gymnasium. Both teams look to erase brief losing streaks and carry positive momentum into next week's MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament.
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Norfolk State couldn't convert on two opportunities to clinch at least a share of the regular season conference title over the weekend, falling 91-88 at South Carolina State and 91-87 at North Carolina Central. With one game remaining on the schedule and sitting in a tie for first place with SCSU, the Spartans can earn at least a share of the regular season championship for the fifth time in head coach
Robert Jones' tenure with a win against Howard.
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Brian Moore Jr. led the Spartans with 24 points and six assists against the Eagles, shooting 12-of-13 from the free throw line. The Spartans erased a double-digit deficit in the final minutes of regulation, but the Eagles narrowly escaped the visiting team's pursuit in overtime.
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Howard looks to right the ship on Thursday after a string of road conference losses. The Bison are led by freshman phenom Blake Harper, averaging 19.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this season.
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Norfolk State comfortably dispatched the Bison in the teams' first meeting of the season, coming away with a 92-75 victory at Echols Hall. Moore put together a clinical performance, scoring 30 points on an 11-of-18 shooting day, going 8-of-8 at the free throw line.
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Thursday's game will air on ESPN+ with radio coverage available on WNSB 91.1 FM.
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LAST TIME OUT
- Norfolk State dropped to 20-10 overall, 10-3 in the MEAC, with a 91-87 overtime loss at North Carolina Central on Monday
- Brian Moore Jr. led the Spartans with 24 points, playing a career-high 42 minutes
- Christian Ings (13), Kuluel Mading (13), Terrance Jones (12), and Chris Fields Jr. (11) also scored in double figures for the Spartans
- Norfolk State shot 57.6 percent from the floor (34-of-59), while NCCU shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61)
- NCCU guard Keishon Porter led the Eagles with 24 points
- North Carolina Central tallied 19 second chance points, holding NSU to just four
SERIES HISTORY
- Thursday will mark the 69th meeting between the Norfolk State and Howard men's basketball programs
- Norfolk State leads the all-times series between the schools 53-15
- Norfolk State won the first regular season meeting between the team in January, coming away with a 92-75 victory at Echols Hall
- Brian Moore Jr. led the Spartans with 30 points in the first meetingÂ
BISON SCOUT
- Howard enters Thursday's game with a 12-18 record, 7-6 in MEAC play
- The Bison look to right the ship after three consecutive road losses
- Freshman phenom Blake Harper leads the Bison with 19.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game
- Howard damages opponents from deep, taking the most 3-pointers in the MEAC (22.7 per game) while holding the best 3-point percentage (.372)
- Howard has won the last two MEAC Tournament titles