Appalachian State University "Mountaineers"
(1-3 overall, 0-0 SoCon, 0-2 Road)
vs.
North Carolina Central University "Eagles"
(3-1 overall, 0-0 MEAC, 1-0 Home)
Friday, November 22, 2013- 7:00 p.m. (EST)
McDougald-McLendon Gym - Durham, N.C.
TV/Video: NCCUEaglePride.com ($8.95)
Radio: NCCUEaglePride.com
Twitter Talk: #NCCUMBB
Game Notes: App State at NCCU (PDF)
THE GAME
North Carolina Central University returns to the nest following a historic 82-72 upset of NC State on Wednesday evening at PNC Arena, as the Eagles look to finish off the 2013 Global Sports Hoops Shootout on a high note. NCCU is 2-1 in the Shootout and will battle the Mountaineers of Appalachian State University. After dropping the first game of the season, the maroon and gray have won three straight heading into Friday's matchup.
THE SERIES
NCCU and Appalachian State have never battled one another on the hardwood since the Eagles made the move to the NCAA Division I Level. The maroon and gray are 0-5 against current members of the Southern Conference (SoCon) having faced just Davidson and Western Carolina since 2007.
NCCU SPORTS NETWORK
The Denny's of Durham Pregame Show begins at 6:45 p.m. as play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks will call the action live from McDougald-McLendon Gym. Fans have the option to watch the contest live for just $8.95 while the live audio portion is free.
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY "MOUNTAINEERS"
Entering Friday night's in-state affair, Appalachian State is 1-3 on the young season coming off a 91-63 win over local foe Lees-McCrae on Wednesday evening in Boone, N.C. For the 21st time under fourth-year head coach Jason Capel, the Mountaineers scored more than 80 points in a game. Under Capel's tutelage, Appalachian State is 18-3 when scoring more than 80 points since the start of the 2010-11 season. In the win over LMC, the Mountaineers had five players score in double figures, which was the first time that App State had accomplished that feat since an overtime win over Georgia Southern on Feb. 7, 2013. Capel has amassed a 45-52 record during his tenure in the high country. In ASU's basketball history, the Mountaineers have won six SoCon titles, two SoCon Tournament titles, and four appearances in the post season including two trips to the NCAA Tournament (1979, 2000). Capel's squad boasts three players averaging in double figures with 6-2 junior point guard Mike Neal leading the way with 12.8 points per game. Neal also leads the black and gold averaging 4.0 assists per contest. Tevin Baskin, a 6-6 senior is second on the roster averaging 11.8 points per game and grabs an average of six rebounds per affair on the year, while 6-3 guard Tab Hamilton is contributiung 11.3 points per game. Sophomore forward Michael Obacha leads the Apps ripping down 7.8 boards a game. App State is shooting 29.2 percent from the perimeter with 21 made shots from beyond-the-arc in four games. Appalachian State enters Friday night's game with a 4-3 record all-time against MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) opponents including a 2-1 record vs. South Carolina State University, 1-0 vs. Morgan State, and 1-2 vs. North Carolina A&T. App State last faced a MEAC opponent on Nov. 28, 2009 when the Mountaineers defeated Morgan State 93-92 in overtime. This will be Appalachian's final year as members of the SoCon as the university announced last year they along with Georgia Southern will make the move to the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) and compete in the Sun Belt Conference.
UP NEXT
NCCU will have the weekend off after playing three games in five days, and will finish up the pre-Thanksgiving holiday schedule on Tuesday night as the Eagles host the Sabers of Barber-Scotia College at 7:00 p.m. in the final contest in the month of November for the Eagles. When the calendar turns to December, the Eagles will be on the road for four of the five matchups slated beginning with the second matchup since 2007 with Old Dominion University on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 7:00 p.m. from the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Va.
