Dec. 31, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE GAME: North Carolina Central University begins a four-game road stretch in Kalamazoo, Mich. to face Western Michigan University on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. ... This will be the Eagles' 16th road game of the season... Michigan will be the 10th different state (North Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, North Dakota, Maryland, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Nebraska, Michigan) the Eagles have played in since their first road game on Nov. 12.

THE SERIES: This will be the first time the Eagles of North Carolina Central University has faced the Broncos of Western Michigan University.

UP NEXT: NCCU remains in state to play East Carolina University on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. ... This will be the Eagles' 17th road game of the season... The game will be televised by Time Warner Cable throughout North Carolina (check local listings; channel 24 in Triangle area). THE EAGLES' COACH Henry Dickerson (Morris Harvey, 1973) is in his fourth season as head coach at North Carolina Central and enters the contest with a 40-62 record at NCCU and a 112-135 career record. Dickerson arrived at N.C. Central in 2004-05 after a five-year stint as head coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he was 72-73 and won two Southern Conference divisional titles from 1997-2002. He also served as associate head coach at Chattanooga from 1989-97, and held assistant coaching positions at Marshall from 1983-89 and Charleston from 1979-83.

OPENING TIP STREAK ENDS: NCCU had controlled the opening tip in five consecutive games, but the streak ended on Sunday against Concord University. NCCU 6-6 senior forward Charles Futrell had won jump balls against UNC Wilmington, Western Kentucky, Creighton, Nebraska and Houston Baptist.

AYALA FOR THREE... THE STREAK CONTINUES: NCCU junior guard Bryan Ayala has made a three-point field goal in all but one contest this season (at North Dakota State, Nov. 17), including 14 games in-a-row. The streak nearly ended on Sunday (Dec. 30) when Ayala, who was suffering from a stomach virus, played only 17 minutes and his only field goal was a three-pointer with less than a minute remaining against Concord University. He is currently shooting 27-of-92 from long range, a 29.3 percent success rate.

FUTRELL CLAIMS BC POWDER ALL-CLASSIC TEAM AWARD: NCCU senior forward Charles Futrell averaged 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds during the two-day BC Powder Classic on Dec. 29-30 to earn a spot on the All-Classic Team. Futrell's weekend included his second double-double of the season and sixth of his two-year college career with a career-best 22 points and 10 rebounds against Concord University on Dec. 30.

BRANCH HAS COMING OUT PARTY: NCCU junior shooting guard Philip Branch, who missed the previous four games with a foot injury, returned from the setback in fashion during the BC Powder Classic on Dec. 29-30. Branch scored 11 points with three triples off the bench in his first game back against Houston Baptist. The following night, he started for the first time as an Eagle and responded with 15 points, including three baskets from long range, and four assists versus Concord University.

ALSTON RETURNS TO HARDWOOD: NCCU's all-time leading punt returner has returned to the hardwood for the Eagles. Senior Brandon Alston, who joined the hoops squad in the second semester last season to average 1.9 points, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals per contest, is back to provide depth and quickness at the guard position. Alston completed his college gridiron career as the school's all-time leader in punt return yards with 1,107. Alston and current basketball teammate Charles Futrell played on two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Football Championship teams (2005, 2006), including the 2006 Black College Football National Championship team.