Complete Game Notes (PDF)
THE GAME
North Carolina Central University is playing its third game in five days, as the Eagles look to end the four-game road swing with a 3-1 record, following its thrilling 90-84 overtime win over rival North Carolina A&T on Monday night. The Eagles are currently 4-2 against MEAC opponents and shift their focus to the Fighting Leathernecks of Western Illinois University.
THE SERIES
NCCU and Western Illinois have met just once in program history with the Fighting Leathernecks beating the Eagles last season on Feb. 2, 2010 53-50 in Durham, N.C. This was a contest that NCCU led by double-figures in the first half before a furious rally in the second half propelled WIU to the win. NCCU is 0-2 all-time against The Summit League, with its only other defeat coming at the hands of North Dakota State on Nov. 17, 2007 (104-51).
WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY “FIGHTING LEATHERNECKS”
Western Illinois University enters Wednesday’s second meeting with a 7-12 record overall sitting at 2-7 (9th) in The Summitt League. The Fighting Leathernecks are led by head coach Jim Molinari in his third season and he is currently 29-49 during his tenure and has compiled a 252-234 in 16 years of coaching. Western Illinois comes into the contest as one of the top defensive teams in the The Summit League. The Leathernecks are number one in scoring defense allowing only 62.7 points a game and forcing opponents to shoot a measely 41.9 percent from the field while also allowing its opponents to shoot 31.8 percent from three-point range. which is tops in the conference. WIU is led by senior shooting guard Matt Lander who is seventh in The Summit League averaging 16.5 points a game, while also dishing out 2.4 assists a game which places him 13th. His teammate Kaimarr Price is fifth in the conference in rebounds grabbing 6.8 boards a game. WIU is a team that has been riddled with injuries this year. Ceola Clark, one of its top players, played just six games this season while averaging 10.7 points a game. Western Illinois also is without the services of David Gerbu and Billy Molinari who are out due to injuries as well.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will spend its final two contests of the month of January back inside the friendly confines of McDougald-McLendon Gym as NCCU hosts MEAC foes Florida A&M on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 29 at 4:00 p.m., and league-leading Bethune-Cookman at 7:30 p.m. on Monday night Jan. 31. Following those two home affairs, the Eagles hit the road for two straight to begin the month of February against Howard University on Feb. 5 (4:00 p.m.), and the Panthers of High Point University on Feb. 7 (7:00).
