The Mid-Eastern’s top team will be at home when the Hampton Pirates (11-8) welcome the Norfolk State Spartans (10-12) to Hampton Convocation Center. Action begins at 6:00 pm ET on Saturday, Jan. 30.
The Pirates are hoping to rebound after their 67-62 loss to South Carolina State in their last matchup. Reginald Johnson was the game’s leading scorer with 19 points. The Spartans, meanwhile, are coming off a 92-73 win against Savannah State in their last game. Charles Oliver was the game’s top scorer, registering 25 points on 8-for-11 shooting.
Johnson has taken his game to another level over the last five games for the Pirates. During that stretch, he has averaged 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.6 steals, and 3.0 three-pointers.
It will be a showdown of conflicting tempos, as the up-and-down Pirates (ranked 30th in the nation in possessions per game) will look to push the slow-paced Spartans (287th in possessions per game).
Notes
In its last game, Norfolk State won by a margin of 19 points. Hampton is 2-4 in games decided by a margin of 18 points or more. Norfolk State has a 4-4 record in blowouts.
The Hampton Pirates average a field goal percentage of 40.9% this season. The Norfolk State Spartans have an abysmal record of 3-10 when opponents have a FG% of 40.9% or greater.
The Hampton Pirates and the Norfolk State Spartans both rank higher in average effective field goal percentage when compared to their field goal percentages. Hampton is 313th and 309th in the nation for FG% and eFG% respectively, while Norfolk State is 262nd and 220th in these categories.
Norfolk State, the 59th-ranked team in blocked shots, registers an average of 4.6 per game. Hampton does worse, ranked 151st with 3.6.
Hampton is one of the best teams in the country when it comes to offensive rebounds, ranking 10th. Norfolk State ranks just 301st in defensive rebounds.
Norfolk State makes an average of 5.7 steals per game. Hampton has a solid 10-5 record when it allows at least 5 steals.
