Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Programming Note: For Eagle Fans in the Raleigh/Durham Area the game will be shown on The Big Ten Network on channels (610) for Direct TV and (538 and 1538- HD) on Time Warner Cable.
The Eagles of North Carolina Central University are coming off their second straight road loss of the season and look to end the grueling three-game stretch on a positive note after dropping a tough decision to Oklahoma (71-63 OT) and a 23-point loss to Miami (88-65). The final game of the road swing takes place in historic Assembly Hall as the Eagles battle the Hoosiers of Indiana University for the second time in the last two seasons. NCCU is currently 0-3 against the Big Ten.
NCCU and Indiana have met just one previous time since moving to Division I which occurred last season on Dec. 19, 2009. The Hoosiers were victorious in the first-ever meeting 81-58. NCCU trailed the Hoosiers by just three heading into the locker room before a second half explosion.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY HOOSIERS
Strong defense allowed Indiana to post a 27-2 run over nearly an 11-minute stretch and Maurice Creek scored 12 of his 19 points in a two-minute burst early in the second half to help Indiana rally past Evansville 67-54 Sunday, Nov. 21. It marked the first time in 36 games that IU has trailed at halftime during the last two-plus seasons, that the Hoosiers have rallied for the win. Both Verdell Jones, III and Christian Watford recorded double-figures as Jones dropped in 18 pts going 4-for-7 from the perimeter, while Watford finished with 12 points and seven rebounds in the comeback win. The Hoosiers enter Tuesday’s affair with a 4-0 record, looking to start 5-0 for the first time since the 2002-03 season. Tom Crean is in his third yeard as the head coach at Indiana and has compiled a record of 20-46 in rebuilding the Hoosier program. In 12 years of coaching at the Division I level, Crean is 210-142. The Hoosiers are led by Watford whos is averaging 17.8 points per game. Jones, III at 12.0 points per contest are the other two double figure performers for IU.
LAST MEETING: DEC. 19, 2009- INDIANA-81, NCCU-58 BLOOMINGTON, IND.
The North Carolina Central University Eagles made the trek to its fourth state this season, and gave another big-time opponent problems as the Indiana University Hoosiers had to use a stellar second half effort to pull away in an 81-58 victory at historic Assembly Hall on Saturday night. The first half saw six lead changes and four ties as the mighty Eagles imposed its will on the Hoosiers. With 4:28 to go in the first stanza, the Eagles grabbed a 31-30 lead that forced an Indiana timeout. NCCU junior C.J. Wilkerson (Oxford, N.C.) dropped in 12 first half points as the Eagles trailed after the first 20 minutes by just three at 36-33. Junior Dwayne Sims tied his season-high in the first half with 8 points that included hitting 2-of-4 from the perimeter. Throughout the initial four minutes of the second stanza, Indiana built onto its halftime advantage leading by seven after a Maurice Creek layup putting the contest at 47-40 with 16:01 left in the ballgame. From that point forward, the Hoosiers got hot, while the Eagles grew cold. For the second straight contest, NCCU hit only 9-of-32 shots from the field. The Hoosiers outscored the Eagles 45-25 in the second half behind six three pointers to pull away for the 81-58 victory. Wilkerson led the Eagles once again scoring 22 points hitting 3-of-9 from the outside. Sims finished with his first-ever double digit performance scoring a season-high 11 points in the loss. NCCU junior Michael Glasker put on his best effort of the season dishing out a career-high 10 helpers in the contest turning the ball over just once. After turning the ball over a season-high 29 times in the previous game against Florida Gulf Coast, NCCU committed just 10 in the loss.
UP NEXT
The Eagles head back home for a two-game homestand (Nov. 27 vs. Allen University- 2:00 p.m. and Dec. 1 vs. Washington Adventist University- 7:00 p.m.) before taking on South Carolina State in its first road game as official MEAC members on Dec. 4.
