NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, February 7, when they host the Eagles of North Carolina Central at 4:30 p.m. at Joseph G. Echols Hall. Tomorrow's game is in honor of former NC Central head coach John McLendon and the 1944 Eagles team as a part of the "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.
SETTING THE SCENE
Norfolk State (10-14, 3-4 MEAC) enters Saturday's contest following an 88-60 setback to Howard at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, DC on Jan. 31.
LAST TIME OUT
- FINAL: Howard 88, Norfolk State 60
- Jordan Leaks: 13 points on 5-of-5 FG, one steal, one rebound
- Additional Spartans in double figures included Anthony McComb III (11)
- TEAM STATS
- FG%: NSU 34.5%, HU 54.0%
- Rebounds: NSU 18, HU 42
- Assists: NSU 9, HU 19
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 44 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: 75.8 ppg
- Team Field Goal Percentage: 45.8% (640-1,396)
- Opponent 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 31.6% (186-588)
- Three Spartans are averaging double figures in conference play:
NSU VS. NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
- Saturday marks the 58th all-time meeting between the programs.
- Norfolk State leads the series 36-21.
- The series dates back to the 1963-64 season.
- NSU won the first 16 meetings.
- The teams split the series last season with NCCU winning in Durham and NSU winning in Norfolk.
- The Spartans fell to the Eagles 69-67 earlier this season on Jan. 3 in Durham.
- Since moving to the Division 1 level, Norfolk State is 11-14 in the series.
EAGLES SCOUT
- North Carolina Central enters the matchup with an 7-12 overall record and 3-1 in conference play.
- NCCU last played on Monday, Feb. 2, defeating UMES 65-63.
- Jae Slack led NCCU with 19 points against UMES shooting 7-of-14 from the field including 4-of-7 from 3-pt range.
- Dionte Johnson (18) joined Slack in double figures.
- Gage Lattimore leads the team overall with 338 points on the season averaging 17.8 per game while Khouri Carvey is the only other Eagle to average double-digits with 14.0 ppg
- Carvey it the teams best rebounder with 132 on the year bringing down 6.6 boards a game with Kelechi Okworogwo on his heels with 4.5 rpg
- NC Central averages 73.2 points per game as a team while allowing opponents 77.3 ppg
- The team shoots 43.7% on FGA, 32.1% on 3FG, and 72.7% at the FT line
- Head coach LeVelle Moton is in his 17th season leading the Eagles with a 286-228 overall record
UP NEXT
The Spartans return home on Saturday, Feb. 14, hosting Delaware State inside Echols Hall at 4:30 p.m.
