# Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball

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. Norfolk State has qualified for the NCAA tournament at the Division I level four times, in 2012, 2021, 2022, and 2025.

## Post-season
### NCAA Division I tournament results

The Spartans have appeared in four 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 |
| 2025 | - | First round | - | - |

### 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 74–91 W 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 74–72 W 84–75 W 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 61–64 W 90–78 |
| 1986 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | Virginia Union Mount St. Mary's Sacred Heart | W 70–60 W 78–75 L 74–84 |
| 1987 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | District of Columbia Mount St. Mary's Kentucky Westleyan | W 68–64 W 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 63–73 W 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 61–59 W 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 89–61 W 84–66 W 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 81–66 W 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.
Norfolk State Spartans retired numbers :
| No. | Player | Years played |
| 10 | Kyle O’Quinn | 2008–2012 |
| 12 | Bob Dandridge | 1965–1969 |
| 34 | David Pope | 1980–1984 |

## Spartans in the NBA

* Bob Dandridge
* Ray Epps
* Kyle O'Quinn
* David Pope

## Spartans in international leagues

* Kris Bankston (born 1999), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League