Jan. 13, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

University of Texas-Pan American "Broncs"

(5-10 overall, 0-5 road)

vs.

North Carolina Central University "Eagles"

(0-18 overall, 0-4 home)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.

McLendon-McDougald Gym - Durham, North Carolina

THE GAME: North Carolina Central University hosts the University of Texas-Pan American on Wednesday in a rematch of a meeting on Dec. 7, 2008, during the Iowa Realty Invitational at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. In that contest, the NCCU Eagles held a seven-point lead at halftime, but the UTPA Broncs rallied for a 56-50 victory. This will be the Eagles' fifth home game of the season, and their third straight in a six-game home stand. NCCU is in its second season as a Division I program.

NCCU SPORTS NETWORK: The NCCU Sports Network will broadcast live on WRJD 1410 AM and via the internet at www.NCCUEaglePride.com. Chris Hooks (play-by-play) and Sedrick Dickens (color analyst) will call the action from Durham, N.C., beginning with "Eagle Gameday" at 7:15 p.m.

THE SERIES: This is the second meeting between NCCU and Texas-Pan American. UTPA rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to capture a 56-50 victory over the Eagles on Dec. 7, 2008, during the Iowa Realty Invitational at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

UP NEXT: NCCU remains at home to host the BC Powder Classic on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16-17. NCCU will play Central State (Ohio) on Friday at 7:30 p.m., following the St. Augustine's/Chowan contest at 5:30 p.m.

THE EAGLES' COACH: Henry Dickerson (Morris Harvey, 1973) is in his fifth season as head coach at North Carolina Central and enters the contest with a 43-89 record at NCCU and a 115-162 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.

ABOUT THE TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN BRONCS: The University of Texas-Pan American, located in Edinburg, Texas, boasts an enrollment of 19,576. The Broncs are members of the newly-formed Great West Conference. UTPA enters the contest with an overall record of 5-10, including an 0-5 record on the opposition's home court, under the direction of third-year head coach Tom Schuberth.

LAST TIME OUT: CHICAGO STATE 115, NCCU 96: Durham, N.C. (Jan. 10, 2009) Saturday night proved to be an offensive slugfest between Chicago State University and North Carolina Central University inside McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium with the visiting Cougars landing more blows during a 115-96 win over the Eagles. Five players scored in double figures for Chicago State (9-8) with senior guard David Holston leading the way with a game-high 33 points, 22 of which came after intermission. The nation's third-leading scorer, Holston also distributed a season-best 12 assists and collected three steals. NCCU had three Eagles net double digits with rookie guard Jamar Briscoe scoring a team-best 32 points. Senior guard Bryan Ayala tallied a season-high 20 points to go along with six rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Junior forward Joshua Worthy also reach a season-high with 15 points, while adding six boards, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots. NCCU shot a season-best 46.4 percent (32-of-69) from the field, including 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from three-point land, and 84.0 percent (21-of-25) from the foul line. CSU led 54-42 at halftime and scored the first 13 points of the second stanza to blow the game wide open.

WORAH-OZIMO LEADING REBOUNDER AMONG INDEPENDENTS: NCCU junior center Stevy Worah-Ozimo currently ranks No. 1 among the NCAA Division I Independent statistical leaders in rebounding. In 16 games, Worah-Ozimo is averaging 9.1 rebounds per game with 58 offensive and 88 defensive boards. The 6-9 transfer amassed a season-high 18 rebounds at No. 23/24 Michigan on Dec. 29, 2008. Worah-Ozimo added 12 boards to the stat sheet against Miami, but did not play against Colgate or Chicago State.

RECORDS WATCH: AYALA CLIMBING NCCU CAREER RANKS: NCCU senior guard Bryan Ayala continues to climb up the ranks as one of the school's all-time career leaders in steals and assists. Ayala currently ranks third in career steals with 159 and third in career assists with 314. He currently needs 14 steals to become the school's all-time leader in that category. On Feb. 19, 2008, Ayala distributed six assists to pass current NCCU assistant coach LeVelle Moton (278 assists from 1992-96) for the fifth spot. (see page 5 of game notes for complete lists)

THE GLASKER FACTOR: NCCU sophomore point guard Michael Glasker may be small in stature (standing 5-feet, 7-inches), but he has been huge for the Eagles off the bench this season. In the last five games, Glasker has contributed 22 points, 19 assists, 10 rebounds and nine steals with only four turnovers. Averaging just 15.9 minutes per contest, Glasker is the team's leading playmaker with 46 assists, and is one of only two Eagles with more assists than turnovers. Glasker's assist-to-turnover ratio is nearly 2-1 (46 assists, 24 turnovers). He also ranks third on the team in steals with 24.

EAGLES REACH 96 POINTS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2004: NCCU scored a season-high 96 points during a home setback to Chicago State on Jan. 10, marking the highest point total reached by the Eagles in five years. The last time NCCU amassed 96 points or more was on Feb. 18, 2004, when the Eagles enjoyed a home victory over rival Winston-Salem State by a final score of 97-65.

THE CONFERENCE CAROUSEL: In the Division I Basketball tier of the NCAA, there are 31 conferences across the nation. During the 2008-2009 season, the North Carolina Central Eagles will play teams from 13 different conferences. The Eagles have already faced two teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (Wake Forest) with N.C. State (Feb 3) still to come; two teams from the Southeastern Conference (Arkansas and South Carolina), and two teams from the Colonial Athletic Association (UNC-Wilmington and Old Dominion). Listed are the conferences in which NCCU will face: ACC (Wake Forest, Miami, and N.C. State); MAC (Kent State); Atlantic Sun (Florida Gulf Coast); Conference USA (Tulsa); CAA (UNC-Wilmington and Old Dominion); SWAC (Jackson State); SEC (Arkansas and South Carolina); Missouri Valley (Drake); MEAC (Winston-Salem State); Atlantic 10 (Duquesne); Big Ten (Michigan); Big 12 (Kansas State); Patriot (Colgate).

BIG FOOT SIGHTING: No, not the legendary Sasquatch. In this case, the "Big Foot" belongs to NCCU sophomore Norbert Randall, a 6-6, 246-pound forward who wears a special-order size 19 sneaker.

EAGLES STAY CLOSE TO NATIONALLY-RANKED MICHIGAN: NCCU trailed nationally-ranked Michigan by just seven points at intermission and was within eight points with less than nine minutes left in the contest, but the Wolverines held off the determined Eagles for a 77-57 victory on Dec. 29 inside Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. Michigan was ranked No. 23 by the Associated Press and No. 24 by the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

BRISCOE RECEIVES STANDING OVATION AT DUQUESNE: On Dec. 22, 2008, those inside the Palumbo Center at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa., took part in something rarely seen in college sports. When visiting NCCU rookie guard Jamar Briscoe fouled out of the game with 1:23 remaining after scoring a career-high 34 points, the home fans gave Briscoe a standing ovation. A classy move by the Duquesne faithful.

DAVIS EARNS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM HONORS AT SPII & IOWA: NCCU sophomore guard Vincent Davis has been selected to two All-Tournament Teams this season. In the final two games of the 2008 South Padre Island Invitational (Nov. 28-29), Davis amassed 25 points, nine steals, eight rebounds, five blocked shots and two assists to earn All-Tournament Team honors. In his best outing, Davis recorded 15 points, six steals, five boards, three rejections and an assist against UNC-Wilmington on Nov. 28 in South Texas. On Dec. 6-7 at the Drake/Iowa Realty Invitational, Davis collected 37 points (18.5 avg.), seven rebounds, four blocked shots, four steals and two assists to capture All-Tournament Team recognition.

BRANCH NETS CAREER-HIGH 22 POINTS AT TULSA: In front of several family members from his native Fort Worth, Texas, NCCU senior guard Philip Branch tickled the twine for a career-high 22 points at Tulsa on Nov. 25. Branch shot 6-for-14 from the floor, including 5-of-12 from long range, and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line to lead all scorers.

TWO EAGLES SUFFER INJURIES BEFORE START OF SEASON: A pair of NCCU newcomers, junior transfer Lamar Pittman and freshman Dami Sapara, suffered injuries before the season even got started. Pittman will miss the entire season, while the length of Sapara's absence has not yet been determined. Both probable starters at the forward position underwent knee operations on the same day (Nov. 7).

EAGLES IN TRANSITION - SECOND YEAR OF DIVISION I: North Carolina Central University, located in Durham, N.C., is in its second season of NCAA Division I competition. The Eagles will be eligible for the NCAA post-season at the end of the four-year reclassification process in the 2011-12 campaign.

NCCU MEN'S BASKETBALL HISTORY LESSON: For decades, the NCCU men's basketball program has been competitive among its peers in the NCAA Division II ranks. The Eagles have made six trips to the NCAA playoffs in the past 20 years, including a regional title in 1993 and the national championship crown in 1989. NCCU has produced Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and legendary Boston Celtic Sam Jones. He played with the Eagles from 1951-54/1956-57, scoring 1,745 points under head coach John B. McLendon, also a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.