Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball American men's college basketball team
Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball University Norfolk State University Head coach Robert Jones (12th season)Conference MEAC Location Norfolk, Virginia Arena Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall (capacity: 7,000)Nickname Spartans Colors Green and gold[ 1]
1995* 1974*, 1986*, 1987*, 1994*, 1995* 1968*, 1971*, 1974*, 1984*, 1986*, 1987*, 1994*, 1995* 2012 1965*, 1968*, 1969*, 1971*, 1974*, 1984*, 1985*, 1986*, 1987*, 1988*, 1989*, 1990*, 1992*, 1994*, 1995*, 2012, 2021, 2022 *at Division II level MEAC : 2012, 2021, 2022CIAA : 1965, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1990, 19962013, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 2021
The Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball team represents Norfolk State University , located in Norfolk, Virginia , in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They currently compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference . The Spartans are currently coached by Robert Jones and play their home games at the Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall (7,000). The Spartans men's basketball team is best known for defeating the #2 seeded Missouri in the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 86–84, the first tournament appearance for Norfolk State. It was only the fifth time that a 15th seed has defeated a 2nd seed.[ 2] [ 3] Norfolk State has qualified for the NCAA tournament at the Division I level three times, in 2012 , 2021 , and 2022 .
Post-season
NCAA Division I tournament results
The Spartans have appeared in three NCAA Division I tournaments . Their combined record is 2–3.
Year
Seed
Round
Opponent
Result
2012
#15
First round Second Round
#2 Missouri #7 Florida
W 86–84 L 50–84
2021
#16
First Four First round
#16 Appalachian State #1 Gonzaga
W 54–53 L 55–98
2022
#16
First round
#1 Baylor
L 49–85
NCAA Division II tournament results
The Spartans have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament 15 times. Their combined record is 18–19.
Year
Round
Opponent
Result
1965
Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game
Bellarmine Bethune-Cookman
L 74–91W 91–74
1968
Regional semifinals Regional Finals
Denison Ashland
W 108–86 L 51–61
1969
Regional semifinals Regional 3rd Place
Mount St. Mary's Old Dominion
L 80–95 L 102–113
1971
Regional semifinals Regional Finals
Roanoke Old Dominion
W 97–77 L 97–102
1974
First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight
Randolph–Macon Roanoke Old Dominion Assumption
W 74–72W 84–75W 89–76 L 79–89
1984
Regional semifinals Regional Finals
Winston-Salem State Virginia Union
W 70–61 L 56–58
1985
Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game
Cal State Hayward Montana State–Billings
L 61–64W 90–78
1986
Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight
Virginia Union Mount St. Mary's Sacred Heart
W 70–60W 78–75 L 74–84
1987
Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight
District of Columbia Mount St. Mary's Kentucky Westleyan
W 68–64W 70–66 L 74–80
1988
Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game
Tampa North Alabama
L 68–71 L 63–76
1989
Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game
North Carolina Central Alabama A&M
L 64–67 L 80–93
1990
Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game
Florida Tech Virginia Union
L 63–73W 102–93
1992
Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game
Jonson C. Smith Albany State
L 76–82 L 70–73
1994
Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight
Longwood Virginia Union Washburn
W 61–59W 71–69 L 58–69
1995
Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four
Johnson C. Smith Virginia Union Alabama A&M Southern Indiana
W 89–61W 84–66W 85–67 L 81–89
NIT results
The Spartans have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) twice. Their record is 1–2.
Year
Round
Opponent
Result
2013
First round
Virginia
L 56–67
2019
First round Second Round
Alabama Colorado
W 80–79 OT L 60–76
CIT results
The Spartans have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) five times. Their combined record is 2–4. They were the CIT champions in 2024.
Year
Round
Opponent
Result
2014
First round
Eastern Michigan
L 54–58
2015
First round
Eastern Kentucky
L 75–81
2016
First round
Columbia
L 54–86
2017
First round
Liberty
L 64–73
2024
Semifinals Championship
Alabama A&M Purdue Fort Wayne
W 81–66W 75–67
Retired numbers
Three Spartan players have had their numbers retired by Norfolk State University . Kyle O’Quinn is the latest, with his number 10 retired by the school on February 16, 2019.[ 4]
Spartans in the NBA
Spartans in international leagues
References
External links
Academics
Colleges & schools
School of Business
School of Education
School of Extended Learning
College of Liberal Arts
College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work
School of Graduate Studies and Research
Honors College
People
Athletics
Student life
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