Complete Game Notes (PDF)
THE GAME
North Carolina Central University looks to get back to its winning ways in its first home contest as provisional members of the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). The Eagles battle against the soon-to-be official league foe has many storylines attached as Delaware State’s head coach, Greg Jackson, held the same position at NCCU from 1991-2000 and the current leader of the Eagles basketball program, LeVelle Moton, played for Jackson from 1992-1996.
THE SERIES
NCCU and Delaware State have met 27 previous times dating back to February of 1945 with the last meeting taking place on January 27, 1979. The Eagles lead the overall series 16-11 and are currently an even 248-248 all-time against the teams in the MEAC.
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS”
Former NCCU head coach Greg Jackson (1991-2000) is in his 11th season at the helm at Delaware State University as he has combined a 162-155 record during his tenure and kept the Hornets as perennial contenders in the MEAC. He has led DSU to its only MEAC Tournament Championship and from 2004-2007 won three consecutive MEAC regular season titles. That success is a carbon copy of his time at NCCU. From 1991 till the end of the century, Jackson kept NCCU basektball on the Division II map with four 20-win seasons, an appearance in the “Elite Eight” of the 1993 NCAA Division II Tournament and two more apperances in the NCAA Division II Regional Championships. He finished his tenure at NCCU as the third winngest coach in program history compiling a record of 164-78 (.678 winning percentage) and will be forever remember for his contributions to the legacy of NCCU basketball. To add even more intrigue, the head coach of the 1989 NCAA Division II National Championship team, Michael Bernard, is the Director of Basketball Operations at DSU. Bernard held the head coach position at NCCU from 1985-1991 winning 67.3 percent of his games and amassing a 115-56 record. He is currently the fourth winningest coach at NCCU all-time. Jackson’s current team, Delaware State enters the weekend riding a five-game losing streak that includes a heartbreaking 72-70 loss to NC State before the holiday break on Dec. 22 where the Wolfpack had to get a tip-in from Scott Wood with time winding down and escape for the win. As a team, the Hornets are second in the MEAC in scoring defense allowing just 63.3 points per contest. DSU is No. 1 in numerous categories league wide with the top free thow percentage at 72.3 percent, three-point percentage at 36.9 percent, and tops in the conference in steals at 9.0 per contest. The Hornets boast three student-athletes in the top 30 of the conference in scoring as a duo of freshman Desi Washington (12.0 points per game) and Casey Walker (11.7 points per game) sit 16th and 18th respectively, while sophomore Marques Oliver is 25th in the MEAC in scoring at 10.2 points per game. Oliver is also tied for 15th in the conference in rebounding grabbing 5.4 boards per game. Point guard Jay Threatt is No. 1 in the conference in assists dishing out 6.3 helpers a game. The junior is on top of the standings in steals averaging 2.6 thefts a game. DSU freshman Jordan Lawson, son of long-time NCCU’s Track and Field coach Michael Lawson, is a freshman on Delaware State’s roster averaging 2.0 points in eight games played. This will be the seventh consecutive road game for the Hornets who have not played at home since Dec. 4 a 64-53 win over Monday’s opponent Maryland Eastern Shore.
UP NEXT
North Carolina Central University looks to end its four-game homestand on a high note as the Hawks from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore come to the Bull City for a Monday night MEAC showdown. Last season, NCCU beat UMES 73-71 in McDougald-McLendon Gym on Feb. 10, 2010 marking the Eagles second straight win and his first Division I winning streak for head coach LeVelle Moton. NCCU is 14-16 all-time against UMES. After Monday’s contest the Eagles hit the road for another four-game road swing beginning on Jan. 15 at Coppin State for a Saturday afternoon matinee with tipoff set for approximately 4:00.
