Norfolk State men look to clinch MEAC outright with win against Howard on Thursday night on ESPNU

Craig Loper
·3 min read

NORFOLK, Va. (Release via NSU Athletics) – Fresh off a net-cutting ceremony at Echols Hall after clinching a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Regular Season title on Monday evening, the Spartans have a chance for revenge on national television on Thursday night.

ESPNU will broadcast Norfolk State’s regular season finale against Howard at Echols Hall, with tip-off slated for 9 p.m. Both squads each have something valuable to play for – a win for the Spartans would mean an outright regular season title, while a win for the Bison would make them co-champions.

The game takes on special motivation for the Spartans, who watched Howard cut down the nets after last year’s regular season finale, an 87-76 result.

“It’s going to be a big game,” Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones. “Forget about ESPN and all that stuff, its secondary. We need to show that we want to be the outright champ.”

The Bison pulled out a one-point victory over Norfolk State in last year’s MEAC Tournament Championship as well, an image the Spartans will want to replace next week at the 2024 conference tournament.

Norfolk State played one of its most complete games of league action on Monday, cruising past Maryland Eastern Shore 69-50 at Echols Hall. Jamarii Thomas led the team with 21 points, while Jaylani Darden contributed 15 points and six rebounds.

Howard has gotten into stride at the right time, riding a four-game win streak into Thursday’s matchup. The Bison picked up tight victories over Morgan State, Coppin State, and UMES to start the stretch, before blowing past Delaware State 85-66 on Monday.

Last Time Out

  • Norfolk State cruised past Maryland Eastern Shore 69-50 on Monday evening, clinching a share of the MEAC Regular Season Title

  • The win also gave Norfolk State its third consecutive 20+ win season, the first stretch in the program’s Division I history with three straight 20+ win seasons

  • Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans with 21 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the free throw line

  • Jaylani Darden contributed 15 points and six rebounds, while Allen Betrand poured in 11 points off the bench

  • The Spartans shot 25-of-56 (44.6 percent) from the floor and 7-of-20 (35.0 percent) from behind the arc

Series History

  • Norfolk State leads the all-time series between the schools 51-14

  • The Spartans erased a 15-point second half deficit to defeat Howard 65-61 at Burr Gymnasium on Jan. 20, 2024.

  • Jamarii Thomas scored 14 points in the first meeting of the season, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in the game’s final minutes

  • Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones collected his 200th career victory with the win at Howard, in the same venue where he earned his 100th career victory

  • Howard won all three meetings of the 2022-23 season, including a one-point victory in the MEAC Tournament championship game

Bison Scout

  • Howard enters Thursday’s showdown with a 15-15 overall record, 9-4 in MEAC play

  • The Bison are on a four-game win streak

  • Howard earned recent tight victories over Morgan State, Coppin State, and Maryland Eastern Shore, before cruising past Delaware State 85-66 on Monday evening

  • Howard forward Bryce Harris leads the Bison with 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest

  • Seth Towns averages 14.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game

UP NEXT

The Spartans compete in the MEAC Tournament next week, just down the road at Norfolk Scope Arena. The event will begin on Wednesday, Mar. 13 and conclude on Saturday, Mar. 16.

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