Norfolk State Spartans vs Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks Prediction, 2/16/2026 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Norfolk State Spartans vs Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks

Date: Monday, February 16, 2026

Location: Hytche Center in Princess Anne, MD

TV: ESPN+

The Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (8-17) welcome the Norfolk State Spartans (11-14) at Hytche Center on Monday.

The Norfolk State Spartans stepped onto the hardwood against North Carolina Central and walked away with a win by a score of 75-68 in their last contest. Norfolk State finished the contest having earned a 48.0% FG percentage (24 out of 50) and converted 6 out of their 18 shots from beyond the arc. From the free throw line, the Spartans buried 21 of 27 shots for a rate of 77.8%. In regard to grabbing boards, they collected 33 with 11 of them being offensive. They also distributed 8 assists in the matchup in addition to creating 14 turnovers and earning 7 steals. When talking about defense, Norfolk State allowed the other team to shoot 47.3% from the field on 26 of 55 shooting. North Carolina Central totaled 8 assists and had 9 steals in this contest. Furthermore, North Carolina Central totaled 21 rebounds (5 offensive, 16 defensive), but wasn't able to put a block in the stat sheet. North Carolina Central ended up shooting 78.6% from the free throw line by making 11 of 14 shots. They made 5 out of their 18 shots from long range. When it comes to fouls, the Spartans ended up with 17 while North Carolina Central finished the game with 20 fouls.

Elijah Jamison is a guy who was a factor in the matchup. He accounted for 28 points on 8 out of 11 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 29 minutes and also grabbed 2 rebounds. He finished the game at 72.7% from the field and totaled 3 assists.

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Norfolk State comes into this matchup with a mark of 11-14 so far this season. They cough up possession 12.6 times per game and as a team are committing 19.2 fouls per game. As a unit, Norfolk State is snagging 35.1 rebounds per game and has racked up 297 assists so far this season, which is 315th in the country in terms of passing. The Spartans are connecting on 33.3% on shots from distance (145 of 436) and 68.2% from the free throw line. They average 75.7 points per game (189th in the country) on 45.9% from the field.

When they are on defense, the Spartans have forced 13.8 turnovers on a nightly basis and they draw 18.4 fouls. They give up 31.5% on shots from distance while they are 171st in Division 1 in points per game allowed (73.4). The Spartans defensively are giving up an opponent FG percentage of 43.9% (615 of 1,401) and they relinquish 33.5 rebounds per contest as a team. They are 265th in the country in allowing assists with 363 relinquished this year.

The last time they took the hardwood, the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks took a loss by a score of 79-71 when they played Morgan State. The Hawks were able to snag 23 defensive boards and 11 offensive rebounds totaling 34 for this contest. They also gave up possession of the ball 9 times, while earning 5 steals in this matchup. Morgan State earned 17 fouls in the game which got the Hawks to the free throw line for a total of 21 tries. They were able to make 18 of the free throw tries for a rate of 85.7%. In regard to shots from 3-point land, Maryland Eastern Shore knocked down 3 of their 17 tries (17.6%). When the game finished, the Hawks went 25 out of 63 from the floor which gave them a rate of 39.7%. The Hawks permitted Morgan State to make 27 of 59 tries from the floor which gave them a percentage of 45.8% in this contest. They wrapped up this game 29.4% from three-point range via 5 out of 17 and ended up shooting 20 of 25 from the free throw line (80.0%). In reference to rebounding, Maryland Eastern Shore permitted Morgan State to get 32 overall (9 offensive).

Dorion Staples ended up being a major contributor for the Hawks in the game. He totaled 16 points in his 34 minutes on the court and had 1 assist in the matchup. He converted 7 out of 17 in the matchup for a field goal percentage of 41.2%, and had 6 rebounds.

Maryland Eastern Shore has a win-loss record of 8-17 for the year. As an offensive unit, the Hawks are shooting 44.4% from the field, which ranks 237th in the nation. Maryland Eastern Shore has accounted for 1,602 points on the season (64.1 per game) and they grab 32.7 boards per contest. They are dishing out assists 13.5 times per contest (220th in the country) and they are losing possession via turnover 15.4 times per contest. The Hawks commit 17.9 fouls per game and they hit 71.5% from the free throw line.

The Hawks on the defensive end are ranked 99th in the country in points allowed per game with 70.8. They are forcing their opponents into 11.6 turnovers on a nightly basis and have allowed teams to shoot 43.6% from the floor (158th in Division 1). The Maryland Eastern Shore defense surrenders 32.2% on shots from 3-point land (178 of 553) and their opponents are connecting on 73.5% of their shots from the charity stripe. They give up 13.2 dimes and 32.6 total boards per game, which has them ranked 166th and 72nd in those categories on the defensive end.

Who will win tonight's NCAA game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Maryland Eastern Shore

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