Norfolk State faces Colorado in NIT second round

No. 8 seed Norfolk State (22-13) vs. No. 4 seed Colorado (22-12)

NIT Second Round, CU Events Center, Boulder, Colorado; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Norfolk State and Colorado will take the floor in the second round of the NIT. Colorado earned a 78-73 win over Dayton on Tuesday, while Norfolk State got an 80-79 win in overtime against Alabama on Wednesday.

LEADING THE CHARGE: The Spartans are led by their senior tandem of Nic Thomas and Steven Whitley. Thomas has averaged 14.4 points while Whitley has recorded 9.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and four assists per game. The Buffaloes have been led by sophomores Tyler Bey and McKinley Wright IV, who are averaging 13.3 and 13.3 points, respectively.

SPARKING THE OFFENSE: Whitley has had his hand in 41 percent of all Norfolk State field goals over the last three games. The senior guard has 17 field goals and 12 assists in those games.

WINLESS WHEN: Norfolk State is 0-7 when scoring fewer than 65 points and 22-6 when scoring at least 65.

THREAT FROM DISTANCE: Norfolk State’s Jamerson Jr. has attempted 179 3-pointers and connected on 51.4 percent of them, and is 12 for 19 over the last three games.

DID YOU KNOW: Colorado is ranked second among Pac-12 teams with an offensive rebound percentage of 31.2 percent. The Buffaloes have averaged 10.3 offensive boards per game and 12 per game over their last five games.