NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State men's basketball team closes out a 10-game road stretch this weekend as the Spartans travel to Dover, Del., to face Delaware State at Alumni Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 10, with tipoff set for 4:30 p.m.
Norfolk State will then return to Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall following a 48-day absence from home action to host Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m.
SETTING THE SCENE
Norfolk State (6-11, 0-1 MEAC) enters the weekend following a tightly contested 69-67 setback at North Carolina Central in its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener on Saturday, Jan. 3, in Durham, N.C.
The matchup against Delaware State marks the Spartans' final road contest before opening their home conference slate against Maryland Eastern Shore.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
- Head Coach Robert Jones, in his 13th season, is just eight wins away from reaching 250 career victories.
- Saturday's matchup is the finale game of a 10-game road stretch spanning 48 days between home contests (Nov. 25 vs. VUL to Jan. 12 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore).
- During this stretch, the Spartans will travel approximately 14,900 miles.
LAST TIME OUT
- Final Score: North Carolina Central 69, Norfolk State 67
- Team Shooting:
- 40.3% FG (25-of-62)
- 23.5% 3FG (4-of-17)
- 65.0% FT (13-of-20)
- Points in the Paint: Norfolk State 42, North Carolina Central 38
NORFOLK STATE IN THE MEAC STATS RANKINGS
NSU enters the weekend as the MEAC's statistical leader in multiple categories:
- Offensive Scoring – 1266 points; 74.5 ppg
- Scoring Margin – 1.3
- Team FG percentage – 45.1% (463-1027)
- Combined team rebounds – 36.8 rpg
- Team offensive rebounds – 12.5 rpg
- Team defensive rebounds – 24.4 rpg
- Rebounding margin – 1.7
NSU VS. DELAWARE STATE
- Saturday's game marks the 75th all-time meeting between the programs.
- Norfolk State holds a 49-25 series advantage.
- In the most recent meeting, the Spartans defeated the Hornets, 96-84 on February 17, 2025.
HORNETS SCOUT
- Delaware State enters the matchup with an 5-11 overall record and an 0-1 MEAC mark following a narrow 53-51 loss to the Coppin State Eagles on Jan. 3
- Ponce James led DSU with 13 points shooting 6-of-16 from the field with four rebounds, four steals and three assists
- Miles Webb was the only other Hornet in double-figures registering a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds
- James leads the team overall with 191 points on the season averaging 13.6 per game
- Webb is the teams best rebounder with 67 on the year bringing down 6.1 boards a game
- Del. State averages 60.6 points per game as a team while allowing opponents 70.7 ppg
- The team shoots 39.1% on FGA, 33.2% on 3FG, and 65.4% at the FT line
- Head coach Stan Waterman is in his fifth season leading the Hornets with a 44-94 overall record
NSU VS. MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
- Monday's game marks the 75th all-time meeting between the programs.
- Norfolk State holds a 56-18 series advantage.
- In the most recent meeting, the Spartans defeated the Hawks, 77-70 on March 12, 2025 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in the opening round of the MEAC Basketball Tournament.
- The last victory by the Hawks came during the 2023-24 season at the Hytche Center in Princess Anne, Md., as UMES won 69-60.
HAWKS SCOUT
- Maryland Eastern Shore enters the weekend with an 5-13 overall record and a 1-0 MEAC mark following a 66-49 victory over the Morgan State Bears on Jan. 3
- Dorion Staples led UMES with 16 points shooting 4-of-9 from the field including three three-pointers and 5-of-6 at the charity stripe
- Joseph Locandro (13) and Zion Obanla (10) joined Staples in double-figures while Michael Teal and Jaden Cooper added nine points apiece
- Locandro leads the team overall with 207 points on the season averaging 11.5 per game
- Oblanla is the teams best rebounder with 85 on the year bringing down 4.7 boards a game
- Md. Eastern Shore averages 63.6 points per game as a team while allowing opponents 72.5 ppg
- The team shoots 44.6% on FGA, 29% on 3FG, and 66.4% at the FT line
- Head coach Cleo Hill Jr. is in his second season leading the Hawks with an 11-38 overall record
UP NEXT
The Spartans return to action on Saturday, Jan. 17, as they travel to Orangeburg, S.C., to face the South Carolina State Bulldogs in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball showdown.
