Head Coach Anthony Evans and the Norfolk State men's basketball program, fresh off their 2012 MEAC Championship and NCAA tournament upset of Missouri, have announced the full 2012-13 schedule. This season's slate is highlighted by NSU's participation in the 2012 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament as well as numerous out-of-conference challenges early on.
The Spartans will host three non-conference opponents this season as well as the usual conference schedule of eight home games, but only two of those 11 home contests will take place before the turn of the calendar year.
NSU kicks off its schedule at Rhode Island on Nov. 9 and at Seton Hall Nov. 12 as part of the early round of the Tip-Off Tournament. The game against Seton Hall will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
After a trip to Longwood on Nov. 15, the Spartans will head to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., for the second half of the Tip-Off Tournament. The Spartans face Loyola (Md.) on Nov. 17 and then either Albany or UMKC the next day.
Following a trip to the state of Kentucky where NSU takes on Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 24 and Morehead State on Nov. 26 right after Thanksgiving, the Spartans will play their home opener Nov. 29 against St. Francis (N.Y.) at 7 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall. The Longwood, Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State contests mark the completion of a home-and-home series after those three teams visited Echols Hall last year.
Conference play gets underway Dec. 1 and 3 at Savannah State and South Carolina State, with a home contest against UMBC on Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. on tap after that. From there, NSU's schedule will take the Spartans to a pair of major conference opponents, at Illinois Dec. 12 and at North Carolina State Dec. 15.
After a week off, NSU wraps up the calendar year at Iona Dec. 23 and East Carolina Dec. 29, followed by a contest at Ball State on Jan. 2. The Spartans close out the non-conference portion of their schedule Jan. 5 at 5 p.m. at home against Navy.
NSU dives back into MEAC play at UMES and Howard Jan. 12 and 14 before finally playing two straight at home Jan. 19 and 21 against Coppin State and Morgan State, respectively. A week later on Jan. 26, the Spartans will also host Hampton for the first Battle of the Bay.
The month of February begins with a return trip to Coppin State and Morgan State Feb. 2 and 4, and then another home weekend Feb. 9 and 11 against Delaware State and UMES. NSU closes out the month with the second Battle of the Bay at Hampton Feb. 18 and then at Delaware State on the 23rd.
The Spartans won't have to leave the city after that point, with Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M making the trip to Norfolk March 2 and 4. North Carolina A&T will then come to town March 7 to close out the regular season. All home conference games begin at 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 p.m. on weekdays.
Starting this season, the MEAC Championship will take place at the Norfolk Scope for the next three years. This year's tournament kicks off March 11 and will conclude with the men's and women's championship games on March 16.
NSU is coming off a 26-10 season that not only saw the Spartans win their first-ever MEAC title but pull off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history. NSU's 86-84 win over Missouri marked, at the time, just the fifth upset of a No. 2 seed by a No. 15 seed.
The Spartans return 11 letterwinners but must replace four starters from a season ago, including 2012 NBA Draft pick Kyle O'Quinn, last year's MEAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
For the complete story, visit
www.nsuspartans.com