NCCU vs. FAMU Notes (PDF)
THE GAME
North Carolina Central University looks to begin 2012 on a high note as the Eagles enter the midway point of the season at an even 7-7, and sit at 1-0 in the conference. Starting on Saturday, NCCU will dive back into the meat of the conference schedule as the Eagles will have four of their next seven contests within the friendly confines of McDougald-McLendon Gym, a place NCCU is currently 5-0 in this season.
THE SERIES
NCCU and Florida A&M have met on five previous occasions with the Eagles holding a 5-0 edge against the Rattlers. Last season, NCCU swept the Rattlers in two very tight-knit contests. On Jan. 29, 2011, the Eagles eeked out a 61-59 win and nearly a month later, the NCCU defense held off FAMU in a 58-55 road victory on Feb. 26, 2011. The Eagles are 258-254 against MEAC opponents all-time.
NCCU SPORTS NETWORK
Eagle Gameday built by Dayeco Construction Co. begins at approximately 3:45 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Jan. 7th and can be seen and heard only online at www.NCCUEaglePride.com. The live video stream can be purchased for $8.95 per game, while the live audio stream is free. Play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network, Chris Hooks, and hall-of-famer, Joe Simmons, will be on the call live from McDougald-McLendon Gym. Follow the game on twitter as well by following @NCCUAthletics and @NCCUradio and by using the hashtag #NCCUFAMU.
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY "RATTLERS"
Florida A&M University enters the weekend riding a six-game losing streak, but that can be deceiving as FAMU has been without the services of Preseason All-MEAC selection Amin Stevens for 12 of the 15 games the Rattlers have played this season. Without the 6-6 junior, Florida A&M remained competitive in many of its contests, including a three-point loss to Southern University on Nov. 25 (64-61) and a seven-point loss to Auburn University on Dec. 19 (76-69). In Stevens’ first game back, he led the Rattlers with 24 points and five rebounds in a 90-63 loss to North Florida. On Wednesday night at Ball State University, the Cardinals had to use a season-high eight blocks, and a 19-8 second half run to pull away for a 15-point win. Stevens leads a trio of players scoring in double figures averaging 18.0 points and 5.7 rebounds. Reggie Lewis is second on the squad averaging 11.7 points and a game shooting 19-of-56 (33.9 percent) from three-point land. At 5-10, Avery Moore provides a big spark off the FAMU bench contributing 10.9 points a game with 32 three-pointers made this season. The 6-8, 215-pound senior Yannick Crowder nearly averages a double-double dropping in 9.9 points per tilt and ripping down 6.9 rebounds a game, good enough for sixth in the MEAC. Crowder also is third in the league in blocked shots averaging 2.1 swats per game. In his first season at the helm, Clemon Johnson was a star basketball player for the Rattlers from 1974-1978. He is currently 2-11 in his first season at Florida A&M.
UP NEXT
The Eagles have a quick turnaround as NCCU will get set to host the defending regular-season champion, Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. from McDougald-McLendon Gym on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012.
EBUKA ANYAORAH WITH THE HOT HAND
Junior transfer Ebuka Anyaorah (Suwanee, Ga.) has caught the attention of the Eagle faithful in his first season in the Bull City. The 6-4, 194-pound guard has scored in double figures in nine games this year including the last three contests, which includes eclipsing his previous high of 18 points against Morris College by dropping 25 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three-point range against East Carolina on Dec. 29 in the 84-76 loss. Anyaorah is averaging 20.3 points per tilt over the last three affairs.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The last time NCCU began a season 5-0 at home was the 2004-05 season, the first under former head coach Henry Dickerson, when he led the Eagles to a 7-0 start inside McDougald-McLendon Gym. During the 1997-98 season, NCCU sported a perfect 12-0 mark at home. From the 1995-96 season till the 97-98 campaign the Eagles were an astonishing 32-3 inside the "Eagles’ Nest".
COLLEGEHOOP.NET ADDS SUTTON TO ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Jon Tietel, writer for CollegeHoop.net, put together some of his top performers in every Division I conference as each league prepped for conference play and senior Dominique Sutton made the All-MEAC team. Here is the list for the All-MEAC squad.
G- Tony Gallo (Coppin State)
G- Darrion Pellum (Hampton)
G- Brandon Riley (SC State)
F- Dominique Sutton (NCCU)
C- Kyle O’Quinn (Norfolk State)
THE COMMISSIONER REACHES 500 REBOUNDS
On Dec. 11, 2011, senior forward Nick Chasten recorded his 500th career rebound at NCCU. Chasten has been a mainstay throughout his Eagle career and has compiled quite a stat line, even breaking into a few career categories. The Raleigh native is currently 10th all-time in blocks with 57, needing six to move up into a tie for eighth place with Jermond Debro (2001-04) and Shawn Ray (2000-03) with 63. He is also 11th in steals with 117 needing just four more to move into the top ten tying Floyd Monroe (1975-1977) who amassed 121 steals during his Eagle career. Chasten also has compiled 886 points during his four years and currently has 513 rebounds at NCCU.
NCCU VS. THE MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Throughout NCCU’s illustrious basketball history, the Eagles have taken on every team in the conference that it helped start back in 1970. NCCU is 258-254 against MEAC opponents all-time.
Bethune Cookman 0-3
Coppin State 4-2
Delaware State 16-12
Florida A&M 5-0
Hampton 42-31
Howard 35-26
Md. Eastern Shore 15-16
Morgan State 44-39
Norfolk State 8-27
North Carolina A&T 64-74
Savannah State 5-5
South Carolina 20-19
