NORFOLK, Va. -- The Norfolk State men's basketball team is returning to Joseph Echols Hall.
The 2023-24 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Regular Season Champions earned the No. 1 overall seed in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) this week, marking NSU's third postseason appearance of the past four years.Â
Norfolk State (22-11,11-3 MEAC) will host a postseason game for the first time in the program's Division I history, facing Alabama A&M (12-22, 9-9 SWAC) in the CIT Semifinal round after an opening bye. The showdown will take place on Saturday, Mar. 23 at 4 p.m.
"We are excited to be able to continue this season, Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones said. "Although the ending wasn't what we prepared or planned for, this has been a historic season for NSU and we are happy to be able to continue it on a national stage."
The teams will compete in the John McLendon Classic on Saturday, honring the legendary late head coach. The first African-American coach to win an integrated national championship. McLendon won three consecutive NAIA titles from 1957-59.
Norfolk State is no stranger to the CIT. The Spartans competed in the tournament in four consecutive seasons from 2014-17, the first four years of Jones' tenure.
LAST TIME OUT
• Norfolk State's MEAC Tournament run came to an end in the semifinals, falling 80-74 to defending champion Howard
• The Bison went on to win their second consecutive title, defeating Delaware State 75-71 in the MEAC Tournament title game
• Allen Betrand led Norfolk State with 16 points, shooting 6-of-10 from the floor with four rebounds
• Jamarii Thomas recorded 14 points, four assists, and four steals
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SERIES HISTORY
• Saturday will mark the fifth meeting between Norfolk State and Alabama A&M
• The Spartans lead the series 3-1
• Norfolk State faced Alabama A&M in last year's ATL Has Something to Say HBCU Challenge, coming away with an 89-83 win in Atlanta, Ga.
BULLDOG SCOUT
• Alabama A&M owns a 12-22 overall record, 9-9 in the SWAC
 • Dalin Smith leads the Bulldogs with 14.0 points per game, adding 3.3 rebounds per contest
• Alabama A&M advanced to the semifinals of the CIT with an 81-71 win over Austin Peay in the Hugh Durham Classic
TIP-INS
• Jamarii Thomas leads the MEAC with 17.1 points per game and steals per game (2.1), while standing second in assists (3.8)Â
• Kuluel Mading ranks third in the MEAC with 1.1 blocks per game
• Jaylani Darden ranks 11th in the MEAC in rebounds per game (4.9) and fifth in steals per game (1.5)
• Norfolk State leads the MEAC in scoring defense (67.6) and defensive field goal percentage (41.1)
• Jamarii Thomas ranks 13th in the nation with 193 made free throws this season, shooting 81.14percent from the charity stripe
THE PATH AHEAD
• A win would secure the Spartans a spot in the CIT Championship game
• The Spartans would face the winner of Monday's showdown between Tarleton State and Purdue Fort Wayne
ALL-STAR SELECTION
• NSU guard Allen Betrand was selected the the HBCU All-Star game earlier this week
• The event will take place on Sunday, Apr. 7 at 4 p.m. ET in Phoenix, Ariz., broadcast on CBS
• Betrand will compete on Team Rick Mahorn, led by North Carolina Central head coach LaVelle Moton and Clark University head coach Rick Mahorn
COLLEGE INSIDER FINALISTS
• Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones was named a finalist for two prestigious CollegeInsider.com awards, the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Yar award as well as the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award
• The Ben Jobe award is presented annually to the top minority head coach in Division I college basketball, while the Skip Prosser award honors those who not only achieve success on the basketball court, but who display moral integrity on and off it as well
• Jamarii Thomas was also named a finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year, recognizing the top player in mid-major college basketball.
