NORFOLK, Va. - The Spartans start a three-game home stretch on Tuesday night at Joseph Echols Hall when the Norfolk State men's basketball team faces Regent University at 7 p.m. It will mark the last game for the Spartans before the Thanksgiving break.

Following the holiday, NSU will return to Echols to face Stony Brook on Nov. 27 and Hampton in the Battle of the Bay on Nov. 29.

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon on the call. Live audio is available through hot91.nsu.edu:8000/128. The audio feed is also available through www.TuneIn.com or the TuneIn Radio App (search for "WNSB").

Fans can also follow along with the live stats and the live video feed. The live video feed also carries the radio broadcast.

Series History
This will mark the first-ever meeting between NSU and Regent University.

Scouting Regent
The Royals are playing their inaugural season for men's basketball this year, as the university recently began its athletics program. Regent, located in Virginia Beach, is a Division I South Region member of the NCCAA, the National Christian College Athletic Association. The Royals have already tasted MEAC play, having played last Tuesday at Howard in an exhibition game. Regent fell by a 108-51 score, with Andrew Aiken leading the Royals with 11 points. Kristopher Warren had nine points and seven rebounds, and Kristopher Walston added eight points. Regent also lost to Brewton-Parker College, 76-71, on Nov. 3 for its first official game. Warren had 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Markell Riggins added 14 points and six boards. The Royals fell to NCAA Division II Mars Hill on Saturday, 98-61, and also play at Chowan on Monday night before coming to Echols Hall on Tuesday.

Last Time Out
Stony Brook outscored the Spartans 11-1 to end the game, one that featured 19 lead changes, as the Seawolves topped NSU 72-65 on Saturday night in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena. The third-place game of the Springfield bracket saw Stony Brook turn the ball over 21 times. The Spartans outscored them 25-17 in points off turnovers, although the Seawolves held the edge on the glass (38-23) and in second chance points (17-6). Nic Thomas had 18 points in the first half and 20 altogether, sinking four 3-pointers. Steven Whitley made the team's other three and finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Neither team led by more than seven. Stony Brook made 47 percent from the field and was 22-of-28 from the foul line. NSU shot 41 percent for the game.

Early Season Trends
 • In 5 of the first 6 games, the opposition has had more assists (+2.8 differential per game), and they have had either the same amount or more turnovers than NSU (+6.0)

 • The Spartans have had more fouls than the other team in 5 of 6 games (+3.3)

 • Norfolk State has scored more points in the second half than the first in 4 of the first 6 contests as well (+5.8)

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit first in the MEAC in turnover margin (+6.00), second in scoring defense (62.2), and third in scoring margin (+6.7), field goal percentage defense (39.0), defensive rebound percentage (72.2) and blocks (4.2).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks 29th in turnover margin (+6.0), 46th in turnovers forced (17.83), 55th in scoring defense (62.2), 80th in fewest turnovers per game (11.8), 90th in blocks per game (5.0), 91st in 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.2) and 94th in field goal percentage defense (39.0).

Player Tidbits
Nic Thomas
 • Tied his career high by playing in 38 minutes against Stony Brook; Had 4th career 20-point game
 • Made career-best 5 3-pointers at South Carolina, all in a row in less than 5 minutes of action
 • Ranks 6th in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.5), 9th in free throw percentage (80.0), 10th in scoring (13.5) and 14th in 3-point field goal percentage (47.6)

Steven Whitley
 • Tied career high with 3 3-pointers and 4 steals against Stony Brook
 • Ranks 12th in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (1.2), 13th in assists (3.0) and 22nd in scoring (9.8)
 • Preseason All-MEAC 2nd Team

Jordan Butler
 • Named MEAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 13
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (175)
 • Ranks 2nd in the MEAC in blocks (1.7), 9th in field goal percentage (48.6) and 15th in rebounds (5.3) and defensive rebounds (3.8)
 • Stands No. 115 in the nation in blocks (1.67)

Alex Long
 • Shooting 10-of-17 last 3 games
 • Stands 4th all-time at NSU in blocks (109)
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in blocks (1.0)
 • Preseason All-MEAC 2nd Team

Mastadi Pitt
 • Has at least 3 assists in every game played
 • Ranks 4th in the MEAC in assist-turnover ratio (2.7) and 11th in assists (3.2)
 • Stands No. 122 in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (2.67)

Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • Tied career high with 2 assists vs. Stony Brook
 • Ranks 15th in the MEAC in offensive rebounds (1.7)
 • Ranks 8th all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (38.7), 19th in 3-point field goal attempts (217) and 20th in 3-point field goals (84)

Joe Bryant Jr.
 • Went for career-high 8 points on 3-of-6 shooting at South Carolina

Armani Branch
 • Tied career highs with 2 assists and 2 steals at South Carolina

Kyonze Chavis
 • Tied career high with 2 assists vs. Siena and 3 rebounds vs. Stony Brook
 • Made career-best 2-of-3 from the free throw line at South Carolina

Busy Stretch
The Spartans began the season with three games in five days from Nov. 6-10. It is one of three such stretches for NSU this year. They will also play three games in five days from Nov. 16-20 and then again from Nov. 27-Dec. 1. Of its 15 non-conference games this year, Norfolk State plays nine of them in November.

Conference Domination
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Norfolk State is 87-25 in regular season MEAC play, a 77.7 winning percentage. Among all D-I programs, that mark ranks NSU 14th in the nation in conference winning percentage during that time (See table page 6).

At 87-25 (46-10 at home, 41-15 on the road), NSU is ahead of North Carolina Central (85-27) for the best record in the league since 2011. Counting MEAC tournament games, the Spartans are 97-31, while the Eagles are 98-31 during that time.

NSU also owns a 136-108 overall record since the start of the 2011-12 season, second in the conference to North Carolina Central (150-85).