NCCU vs. Delaware State Game Notes (PDF)
THE GAME
The Eagles of North Carolina Central University return to the homestead after playing the last three contests away from the Bull City. NCCU sits at an even 3-3 in conference play and looks to rid itself of a two-game losing streak starting with a contest against the Hornets of Delaware State University. NCCU has struggled from three-point range in the last two games going 4-for-33 (12.1 percent).
THE SERIES
NCCU and Delaware State have met 28 previous times dating all the way back to February of 1945 with the Eagles leading the all-time series 16-12. These two programs met on Jan. 8, 2011 where the visiting Hornets outlasted NCCU 68-59. Prior to that matchup, the last meeting took place on Jan. 27, 1979. The Eagles are 260-257 against MEAC opponents all-time.
THE NCCU SPORTS NETWORK
The NCCU Sports Network has announced that it will broadcast the next two home doubleheaders coming up this Saturday, Jan. 28 against Delaware State University, and Monday, Jan. 30 against Maryland Eastern Shore on both a live video stream that is $8.95 per game and a live audio stream for fans to enjoy the action of MEAC basketball. On Saturday afternoon, tune in beginning at 1:45 for Eagle Gameday built by Dayeco Construction Co. as Lady Eagles play-by-play voice, Paul Doherty, and former standout Danielle Johnson-Webb bring you live action between the Lady Eagles and the Lady Hornets, followed immediately with play-by-play voice, Chris Hooks, and hall-of-famer, Joe Simmons, for the men’s contest approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women’s game. The schedule for Monday is very similar format beginning at 5:15 p.m. as NCCU takes on Maryland Eastern Shore in a MEAC twinbill. To access either the video or audio stream, simply go to GameCentral on the main page of the website. The cost to watch the live video stream is $8.95 per game, while the live audio is free.
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY "HORNETS"
Delaware State University enters weekend play with a 5-11 record overall, 2-3 in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) following a 65-51 win over Florida A&M on Monday night at Memorial Hall in Dover, Del. The win placed the Hornets ninth place in the league, one-and-a-half games behind Florida A&M for eighth. DSU sits second in the conference in three-point percentage hopping over NCCU with its recent struggles from the outside, shooting 35.8 percent with 98 three-pointers made on the season. As a team, the Hornets are No. 1 in the conference in blocked shots with 113 averaging 7.1 swats per game. Freshman guard Tahj Tate leads DSU averaging 15.2 points per contest sitting in sixth place in the league in that category. The 6-4 guard is also in the top 10 in free-throw percentage shooting 35-for-47 (74.5 percent), and ninth in the league in three-point percentage hitting 17-of-43 from behind-the-arc (39.5 percent). His fellow freshman teammate Kendall Gray is No. 1 in the MEAC in blocked shots with 48 on the season, averaging 3.2 blocks a game. Senior point guard and 2nd Team Preseason All-MEAC selection, Jay Threatt, is No. 1 in the league in steals with 2.8 thefts per game. Threatt is also second in the MEAC in free-throw percentage at 84.8 percent (28-of-33). Joining him on the preseason first team is junior forward Marques Oliver is in the top 30 in the league averaging 10.3 points a game, also sits seventh in the conference in rebounding grabbing 7.4 rebounds a game, while residing in the top-five in the league in field goal percentage at fourth shooting 56.0 percent from the field. Not to be forgotten, small forward Casey Walker is deadly from the outside hitting 2.3 three-pointers per game with 36 three-pointers made as a sophomore. Former NCCU head coach Greg Jackson (1991-2000) is in his 12th season at the helm at Delaware State University as he has combined a 172-180 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. His overall coaching record which spans 21 years is 334-258, sporting a 127-67 record in MEAC play.
UP NEXT
NCCU gets back to action after a day off as the Eagles host the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday night, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. from McDougald-McLendon Gym. This will be the 32nd meeting between these two programs. Following that matchup, the Eagles will make the trek down to the Sunshine State to begin the month of Febraury for the Saturday/Monday MEAC road swing against Florida A&M (Feb. 4-6:00 p.m.) and Bethune-Cookman (Feb. 6-7:30 p.m.).
