NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team returns to action this weekend, traveling to the nation's capital to face Howard University on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. inside Burr Gymnasium.
SETTING THE SCENE
Norfolk State (10-13, 3-3 MEAC) enters Saturday's contest following a narrow 79-78 setback to Morgan State at Echols Hall on Jan. 26.
LAST TIME OUT
- FINAL: Morgan State 79, Norfolk State 78
- Jaquel Morris: 23 points, six rebounds, one steal, one block (11-of-12 FG)
- Additional Spartans in double figures included Anthony McComb III (14), Elijah Jamison (13), and Devon Ellis (11).
- TEAM STATS
- FG%: NSU 41.4%, MSU 46.3%
- Rebounds: NSU 45, MSU 35
- Assists: NSU 13, MSU 10
- Points in the Paint: NSU 46, MSU 26
SPARTAN NEWS & NOTES
- Head Coach Robert Jones is four wins away from earning his 250th career coaching victory.
- The 103-76 win over Coppin State marked Coach Jones' first Division I victory in which his team scored 100 or more points.
- The 27-point margin against Coppin State was the Spartans' largest conference win since Feb. 13, 2023 (97-58 vs. Delaware State).
- Elijah Jamison is 53 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point milestone for his career.
- Fourteen of Norfolk State's 23 games this season have been decided by 10 points or less.
- Eight games have been decided by three points or fewer.
NORFOLK STATE IN THE MEAC STAT RANKINGS
Norfolk State enters the weekend leading the MEAC in multiple categories:
- Scoring Offense: 76.4 ppg
- Scoring Margin: +3.4
- Team Field Goal Percentage: 46.3% (621-1,341)
- Opponent 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 31.1% (177-569)
- Defensive Rebounds: 24.2 rpg
- Four Spartans are averaging double figures in conference play:
NSU VS. HOWARD
- Saturday marks the 70th all-time meeting between the two programs.
- Norfolk State leads the series, 54-19
- Series dates back to the 1967-68 season
- NSU won the first 11 meetings and has claimed each of the last two
- The Spartans swept the season series last year
- Norfolk State earned an 81-69 win on March 6, 2025
- NSU is 6-4 over the last 10 meetings
- Howard's last win came during the 2023-24 season with an 80-74 victory in the MEAC Championship game
BISON SCOUT
- Howard enters the weekend with a 12-9 overall record and a 2-3 mark in MEAC play.
- The Bison dropped their most recent contest, 78-77, to Morgan State on Saturday, Jan. 24.
- Cedric Taylor III: 29 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks, two steals
- Bryce Harris: 23 points, 11 rebounds (sixth double-double of the season)
- Alex Cotton: 14 points
- Team leaders:
- Bryce Harris – 17.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg
- Cedric Taylor III – 14.3 ppg
- Ose Okojie – 10.4 ppg
- Team averages:
- Scoring: 74.0 ppg
- Scoring Defense: 70.0 ppg
- Shooting: 43.8% FG, 32.0% 3FG, 71.1% FT
- Head Coach Kenneth Blakeney is in his seventh season at Howard, owning an 85-106 record with the Bison.
UP NEXT
The Spartans return home on Saturday, Feb. 7, hosting North Carolina Central inside Echols Hall at 4:30 p.m. The matchup will feature participation in the nationwide "This Game Is No Secret" initiative.
ABOUT "THIS GAME IS NO SECRET"
This Game Is No Secret is a nationwide initiative honoring John McLendon and the historic 1944 Secret Game, celebrating the integration of basketball through education, awareness, and action.
The initiative promotes social justice and equality by encouraging teams across the country to wear "THIS GAME IS NO SECRET" shirts and use their platforms to share Coach McLendon's story while raising awareness about the ongoing fight against racism in college basketball and beyond.
