Who’s playing
Norfolk State Spartans @ Alabama State Hornets
Current records: Norfolk State 6-6, Alabama State 4-6
How to watch
- When: Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET
- Or: Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, Connecticut
- TV: ESPN University
- Follow: CBS Sports app
- Online broadcast: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Ticket cost: $42.00
What you need to know
The Alabama State Hornets and Norfolk State Spartans will face off for some holiday cheer on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Hornets will no doubt be hoping to end a 12-game losing streak dating back to last season.
Last Wednesday, Alabama State needed a little extra time to put away UT Martin. They came away with a 103-93 victory over the Skyhawks. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Hornets as it ended their four-game losing streak.
Alabama State worked as a unit and finished the game with 19 assists. They easily outscored their opponents in this department as UT Martin only posted 11.
Meanwhile, Norfolk State’s recent rough patch got a little tougher Sunday after its third straight loss. They fell 71-62 to Northern Kentucky. This was the Spartans’ lowest scoring game so far this season.
Alabama State’s victory improved its record to 4-6. As for Norfolk State, their loss dropped their record to 6-6.
Thursday’s game is shaping up to be a scrappy game: Alabama State has crashed the boards this season, averaging 36.3 rebounds per game. It’s a different story for Norfolk State, as its average is only 32.4. Given Alabama State’s considerable advantage in this area, Norfolk State will need to find a way to close that gap.
Looking ahead, Alabama State is the favorite in this one, as experts expect to see them win by 4.5 points.
Odds
Alabama State is a 4.5-point favorite over Norfolk State, according to the latest college basketball odds.
The punters were perfectly in tune with the betting community on this point, as the game opened with a 4.5 point spread and stayed there.
The over/under is 149.5 points.
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