TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Norfolk State will make its second-ever appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and the first since 2013 when the Spartan men's basketball team plays at Alabama on Wednesday night. Tip-off from Coleman Coliseum is set for 7 p.m. EST.

NSU won the MEAC regular season title at 14-2 before falling in the MEAC Championship game to North Carolina Central, 50-47. Alabama went 18-15 overall this year, 8-10 in the SEC.

Media Coverage
The game will be broadcast on ESPNU, with Dave LaMont and Sean Harrington on the call. It can be seen through the WatchESPN app as well.

The game will also be broadcast live on Hot 91.1 FM with Ross Gordon on play-by-play. 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 follow along with the live stats.

Series History
NSU and Alabama have played just one time in their history, a 68-49 win for the Crimson Tide on Jan. 2, 2016. NSU trailed by just five at the half but shot 25 percent in the second period, including a seven-minute span without scoring. Alabama made 46 percent for the game.

Scouting Alabama
The Crimson Tide lost four of their last five games of the season, although they did beat NCAA tournament teams Murray State, Northeastern, Liberty, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Mississippi State throughout the year. Alabama also defeated its one common opponent with NSU, 68-62 at South Carolina, a team that beat the Spartans 81-64.

Alabama is led by three players in double figures, including leading scorer Kira Lewis Jr. (13.6 points), who is one of three players with at least 45 3-pointers. Donta Hall adds 10.6 points, team-bests 8.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, and shoots 62 percent from the floor. John Petty contributes 10.2 points and 4.2 rebounds, and as a team the Crimson Tide are +3.2 in rebound margin.

Other scorers for an Alabama team that averages nearly 72 points per game are Tevin Mack (9.1 points) and Dazon Ingram (7.2 points). Thanks in part to Hall, the Crimson Tide average 4.7 blocks per game, top 30 in the nation. They do, however, turn the all over 13.6 times per game and are -1.8 in turnover margin.

Last Time Out
Norfolk State made just 4-of-22 in the second half, and a 12-point lead disappeared completely in a 50-47 loss to North Carolina Central in the MEAC Championship game on Saturday at Scope Arena. No. 1 seed NSU led by 10 at the half, but No. 3 seed NCCU outscored the Spartans 28-15 in the second half. NSU's 18.2 shooting percentage was the first time since Nov. 16, 2014 at Virginia (5-of-28, 17.9 percent) that the Spartans made less than 20 percent in a half.

The Eagles shot just 36 percent for the game, while NSU made 34 percent, including 48 percent in the first half to help build a 32-22 lead at the half. Runs of 14-1 and 11-2 for NCCU in the second half put the Eagles ahead for good, even though they did not score during the last four minutes of play.

Mastadi Pitt totaled 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting for NSU, and freshman C.J. Kelly added 13 points with four rebounds. Both earned MEAC All-Tournament Team honors. Zacarry Douglas (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Raasean Davis (8 points, 14 rebounds) helped the Eagles control the glass 41-29.

Postseason History
This year, NSU will make its seventh postseason appearance in its Division I era (1997-Present), and all have come since 2012. It started with the NCAA tournament in 2012 after the Spartans won their first-ever MEAC title. NSU went to the NIT in 2013 after winning the conference's regular season title at 16-0. NSU also faced Eastern Michigan (2014), Eastern Kentucky (2015), Columbia (2016) and Liberty (2017) in the CollegeInsider.com tournaments.

NSU played at Virginia in the 2013 NIT, losing 67-56 in the first round game.

Season Trends
 • NSU has been to the semifinals of the MEAC tournament nine times in the last 12 seasons. The Spartans have been a No. 4 seed or better in 10 of the last 12 years as well. The Spartans secured their fourth-ever trip to the finals this year along with the 2009, '12 and '17 teams. The 2012 team captured the program's only MEAC title.

 • The Spartans secured their second-ever MEAC regular season title this year, joining the 2012-13 team that finished 16-0. NSU finished the year with the second-most wins ever in MEAC play (14) next to that undefeated season. In 2013, their only other time as a No. 1 seed in the tournament, the Spartans were upset in the quarterfinal round by Bethune-Cookman in overtime, 70-68.

 • The Spartans also secured a 20-win season this year, their fourth since joining Division I. They had 26 wins in 2011-12, 21 in 2012-13 and 20 in 2014-15. The game at Alabama will be the team's 35th on the season, the second-most ever next to the 36 games played in 2011-12.

 • The Spartans are currently hitting 36.9 percent from deep, a pace that would top the D-I record of 35.9 percent set last year. With 263 3-pointers, they passed the previous school record of 254 set last year as well. Since the win over UTEP, a span of 22 games, the Spartans are shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point range (184-of-468).

 • At 73.9 points per game, NSU is on pace for its highest scoring average since the 1999-2000 season (76.0) and the third highest in the D-I era. Its +4.8 scoring margin is also on pace to top the previous D-I best of +3.9 set in 2014-15. In addition, the team's 71.5 percent clip from the free throw line currently stands as the third-best in the D-I era behind the 72.0 mark in 2003-04.

 • The Spartans also set the school's D-I record for points (passing pervious best of 2,494) and the school's overall records for 3-point attempts (previous best of 707) and personal fouls (previous best of 712). Their 551 free throws and 771 attempts are the second most in the D-I era as well.

 • NSU is outscoring teams 16.3 - 14.3 in points off turnovers, 27.6 - 24.6 in points in the paint, and 8.3 - 5.9 in fastbreak points on the year. NSU is also averaging 10.5 second-chance points and 10.0 fastbreak points the last 8 games.

 • The Spartans have forced 16.3 turnovers with 6.3 steals the last 3 games.

 • NSU has had the same amount or more fouls than the other team in 24 of 34 games (+1.9 per game).

 • In 26 of 34 games, the Spartans have scored the same or more points in the second half than the first (+7.8). They shoot better in the second half (47.2 - 40.4), as do opponents (42.8 - 38.6). NSU is also -0.9 on the glass in the first half and +1.2 in the second, and the Spartans force 8.5 turnovers in the first half compared to 7.1 in the second.

 • Against MEAC teams, including in the tournament, NSU has erased deficits of eight (twice), nine (twice), 10, 11 and 24 points this year.

Player Facts
Derrik Jamerson Jr.
 • 2nd-Team All-MEAC
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in 3-point field goal % (51.2), 3rd in 3-point field goals per game (2.5), 7th in field goal % (50.5) and 20th in scoring (10.3)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 1st in 3-point field goal % (57.6), 2nd in 3-point field goals (3.1), 7th in field goal % (53.8) and 16th in scoring (12.8)
 • Stands 1st in the nation in 3-point field goal % (51.2, 2.3 percentage points ahead of the No. 2 player) and No. 118 in 3-point field goals per game (2.50)
 • Ranks 3rd all-time at NSU in 3-point field goal % (45.2), 5th in 3-point field goals (160) and 9th in 3-point field goal attempts (354)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, stands 5th in 3-point field goal % (45.2) and No. 220 in 3-pointers (160)
 • Ranks 1st in NSU D-I single-season and overall records in 3-point field goal % (51.2), 1st in D-I and 2nd in overall season records in 3-pointers (85) and 13th in D-I record in 3-point attempts (166)
 • Made 5-of-6 from deep against Howard (3/15), 21st career game with at least 4 treys

Nic Thomas
 • 2nd-Team All-MEAC
 • Ranks 3rd in the MEAC in 3-point field goals per game (2.5), 4th in 3-point field goal % (39.8), and 8th in scoring (14.4) and free throw % (80.7)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 2nd in free throw % (87.1), 6th in 3-point field goals (2.7) and 3-point field goal % (43.2) and 7th in scoring (15.5)
 • Stands No. 54 in the nation in 3-point field goal % (39.8), No. 118 in 3-point field goals per game (2.50), and No. 135 in free throw % (80.7)
 • Stands 5th all-time at NSU in free throw % (80.2), 11th in 3-point field goals (117), and 13th in 3-point field goal % (37.0) and 3-point field goal attempts (316)
 • Ranks 2nd in NSU D-I single-season and 3rd in overall records in 3-point field goals (80), 4th in D-I and 5th in overall records in 3-point field goal attempts (201), and 9th in D-I records in 3-point field goal % (39.8) and free throw % (80.7) and 10th in free throws (121)
 • Averaging 4.4 rebounds last 7 games
 • Tallied career-high 30 points against South Carolina State, shooting 5-of-10 from deep; Marked 10th career 20-point game and 12th career game with at least 4 3-pointers
 • Program's 1st 30-point game since Jonathan Wade had 31 on Jan. 28, 2017

Steven Whitley
 • 3rd-Team All-MEAC
 • Ranks 7th in the MEAC in steals (1.4), 8th in assists (3.9), 11th in assist-turnover ratio (1.3) and defensive rebounds (4.4), and 25th in scoring (9.6)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 4th in assists (5.1), 8th in assist-turnover ratio (1.6), 9th in defensive rebounds (4.9), 11th in steals (1.2) and 17th in rebounding (5.7)
 • Stands No. 162 in the nation in assists (3.9) and no. 242 in steals (1.38)
 • Ranks 6th all-time at NSU in assist average (4.29) and 14th in assists (279)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 132 in assists (316) and No. 407 in rebounds (406)
 • Ranks 7th in NSU D-I single-season records in assists (125) and 9th in assist average (3.91)
 • Averaging 16.0 points last 2 games and 6.8 rebounds last 11 games
 • Set new career high with 5 steals against North Carolina Central
 • Had season-high 24 points against Howard (3/15), 5th career 20-point game

Jordan Butler
 • 3rd-Team All-MEAC; Became the 8th Spartan player to earn all-MEAC honors twice (including all-rookie team)
 • Ranks 1st in the MEAC in blocks (2.0), 9th in defensive rebounds (4.5), 11th in rebounds (6.3), 12th in free throw % (76.9) and 13th in offensive rebounds (1.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 3rd in blocks (1.9), 7th in free throw % (81.8), 10th in defensive rebounds (4.9) and 11th in rebounds (6.7)
 • Stands No. 38 in the nation in blocks (2.00) and No. 246 in free throw % (76.9)
 • Second all-time at NSU in blocks (227), 5th in games played (127) and 19th in rebounding (715)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks 5th in blocks (227), No. 34 in block average (1.79), No. 57 in rebounds (715) and No. 139 in games played (127)
 • Ranks 6th in NSU D-I single-season and 7th in overall records in blocks (62)
 • Averaging 2.8 blocks last 4 games
 • Had 10 points and 10 rebounds against Howard (3/15); marked 9th career double-double and 19th career 10+ rebounding game

Alex Long
 • Ranks 8th in the MEAC in field goal % (48.8) and 11th in blocks (0.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 9th in field goal % (50.0)
 • Stands 2nd all-time at NSU in games played (132), 4th in blocks (128) and 35th in points (1,036)
 • In NCAA D-I active career leaders, ranks No. 54 in games played (132) and No. 100 in rebounds (634)

Mastadi Pitt
 • Named to MEAC All-Tournament Team after averaging 15.0 points, 4.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 3 games
 • Ranks 13th in the MEAC in assists (2.8) and free throw % (76.7), 14th in 3-point field goal % (33.0) and 23rd in scoring (9.8)
 • In MEAC games only, ranked 28th in scoring (10.0)
 • Averaging 16.1 points on 39-of-82 shooting, 3.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists last 7 games
 • Had career-high 6 rebounds against Howard (3/15)
 • Played in career-high 37 minutes against South Carolina State

C.J. Kelly
 • MEAC All-Rookie Team
 • Named to MEAC All-Tournament Team after totaling 13 points in the championship game
 • 6th career 10-point game with 13 against North Carolina Central; Tied career high with 2 assists in career-best 27 minutes

Armani Branch
 • Scored 11 points against Howard (3/7), his 4th 10-point game of the season

Kyonze Chavis
 • Tied career high with 4 rebounds vs. South Carolina State (March 13)

MEAC Rankings
The Spartans sit 1st in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense (40.6), 3-point field goal percentage (36.9) and blocks (4.4), 2nd in scoring margin (+4.8), defensive rebound percentage (71.6) and 3-point field goals (7.7), and 3rd in scoring offense (73.9), free throw percentage (71.5), field goal percentage (43.9) and defensive rebounds (26.5).

National Rankings
On a national level, Norfolk State ranks No. 24 in turnovers forced (15.68), No. 31 in field goal percentage defense (40.6), No. 49 in blocks (4.4), No. 59 in 3-point field goal percentage (36.9), No. 79 in defensive rebounds (26.50), No. 87 in 3-point field goal percentage defense (32.8), No. 94 in won-lost percentage (61.8), No. 97 in scoring margin (+4.8), No. 116 in scoring defense (69.1), No. 125 in turnover margin (+0.9), No. 128 in rebounds (36.24) and No. 136 in scoring offense (73.9).