NCCU vs. Howard Game Notes (PDF)
NCCU vs. Howard Men's Broadcast Link (VIDEO)
NCCU vs. Howard Men's Broadcast Link (AUDIO)
THE GAME
Entering the week with a four-game winning streak for the first time since Dec. of 2011, North Carolina Central University sits at 3-0 in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) and begins a crucial three-game homestand with the opportunity to place itself in prime position through the first portion of the conference slate as the Bison of Howard University come to town for a Martin Luther King Day matchup.
THE SERIES
NCCU and Howard have met 62 previous times on the hardwood with the Eagles owning a 36-26 advantage over the Bison. Since moving to the Division I level, NCCU is 2-0 against Howard with both matchups taking place at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C. This series dates all the way back to Feb. 2, 1937 when these two teams first met.
NCCU SPORTS NETWORK
Tune in to wall-to-wall coverage of the MEAC doubleheader between NCCU and Howard beginning with the Champps Pregame Show at 5:15 p.m. as Darren Headrick and play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks will set the scene from McDougald Gym in the women's matchup. Game two will see NCCU Hall-of-Famer Joe Simmons jump in as color analyst in the men's contest. Fans can interact with Hooks by sending an e-mail to whooks@nccu.edu or by sending a tweet to @NCCUAthletics on twitter.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY "BISON"
The Bison of Howard University enter Monday’s 63rd meeting after dropping a one-sided 61-37 contest to the Aggies of North Carolina A&T inside the Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday, Jan. 19. In that ballgame, which was the Bison’s thrid straight defeat, Howard shot a paltry 25.0 percent from the field (12-for-48), and hit just 2-for-14 from the outside. HU went 6-for-24 from the field in each half, while A&T’s Adrian Powell lit the lamps for a game-high 23 points going 5-for-7 from beyond-the-arc in the win for the Aggies. Powell was the lone player in the contest to record double figures. Prior to this weekend’s loss, Howard’s pervious two defeats were to Norfolk State (54-49) and Hampton (51-49). This is a squad that boasts just four seniors, three juniors, six sophomores, and one freshman. The Bison are headed up by third year head coach Kevin Nickelberry who has complied a 20-60 record at Howard, while rolling up a 103-117 career record in seven seasons as a head coach. HU enters the contest dead last in the MEAC in scoring offense at 52.9 points a a game, but are fourth in the conference in scoring defense surrendering just 62.9 points a game. As a team, the Bison are third in the league shooting 66.7 percent from the foul line, No. 10 in field goal percentage (38.9 percent), fifth in field goal percentage defense (42.1 percent), and dead last in the conference in three-point percentage (23.2 percent). The lone win for HU in the league came against Coppin State (70-60) in Baltimore, Md. on Jan. 5. Senior forward Mike Phillips leads the Bison in scoring dropping in 12.1 points and grabbing 6.2 rebounds per contest. Calvin Thompson is tied with Phillips averaging 12.1 points a game. HU has six players averaging 4.9 points points or more.
UP NEXT
The maroon and gray continue the conference-long home stand as Coppin State comes to town for a Saturday, Jan. 26 matchup at 4:00 p.m. and Morgan State battles the Eagles on Monday night, Jan 28 at 7:30 p.m. Following the week-long stay at home, NCCU will hit the road for a Saturday, Feb. 2 showdown against Delaware State (4:00 p.m.) and will wrap-up the road trip on Monday night Feb. 4 at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at 7:30 to begin the month of February.
