Comeplete Game Notes
THE GAME
North Carolina Central University begins the backstretch of the 2010-11 season with just eight games remaining on the slate and a chance to get as many as 19 wins as they currently sit at an even 11-11 on the year. The Eagles have three of their next four contests inside the friendly confines of McDougald-McLendon Gym.
THE SERIES
With the 77-71 over Coppin State at the Physical Education Complex in Baltimore, Md. on Jan. 15, NCCU took a 3-2 series leads on CSU, and has won four of its last six contests away from the Bull City despite dropping its last road contest to High Point just a week ago. The Eagles have won 2 of the last 3 in this series and are now 254-251 against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents all time.
COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY “EAGLES”
Since Jan. 15, the Coppin State University Eagles have done a complete 180 going 6-2 since the 77-71 loss to NCCU around a month ago. Over the weekend, the Eagles had four players in double-figures led by Akeem Ellis’s 17 points as CSU beat South Carolina State University 70-64 to improve its MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) record to 7-4. Following the loss to NCCU, CSU has beaten the likes of SCSU (twice), Maryland Eastern Shore, Delaware State, North Carolina A&T and one of the league leaders in Bethune-Cookman. Four Eagles are averaging in double figures with Michael Harper leading the way averaging 14.5 points a game. Harper finished with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting in the previous matchup between these two teams. Ellis is second on the squad scoring 13.0 points per game, and he mustered just 12 points and five rebounds against NCCU back a month ago. Starting point guard Tony Gallo is third on the roster with 12.3 points a game. Gallo will be looking for a bit of redemption against the Eagles as he was held to nine points and racked up five turnovers in the 77-71 loss on Jan. 15. Rounding out the double-figure scorers, Jordan Lee, is contributing 10.1 points per contest and went scoreless in eight minutes of action in the last meeting.
UP NEXT
Following Monday night’s contest, NCCU hits the road for its final non-conference game of the year against Coastal Carolina, which as of Sunday, Feb. 13 was ranked in the top ten of the Mid-Major top 25 with a 22-2 record overall, 13-0 in the Big South. The second meeting between the Chanticleers and the Eagles is set for Thursday, Feb 17 at 7:00 p.m. from Kimbel Arena in Conway, S.C. This is game one of four games in seven days.
