THE GAME
North Carolina Central University preps to take on the Panthers of Eastern Illinois University for the first time in program history in the third round of the 2014 Emerald Coast Classic.  Both teams enter the contest on short losing streaks as EIU has lost three straight, while NCCU has dropped two straight.

THE SERIES
NCCU and Eastern Illinois have never met on the hardwood.  NCCU is 3-15 all-time against teams from the Ohio Valley Conference

NCCU SPORTS NETWORK
The Nationwide Insurance Pregame Show presented by the Amber Craig Agency hits the air at 11:40 a.m. (EST) as play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks will call the action from Niceville, Florida. 

SCOUTING REPORT:  EASTERN ILLINOIS
-Eastern Illinois enters Friday's matchup with a 1-4 record on the year following the 75-53 loss at the hands of No. 23 Creighton on Tuesday night.  The Bluejays blew open a 19-point first half lead by hitting six of seven shots to begin the second frame, while the Panthers shot 1-for-10 from-deep in the first frame to dig the first half hole.  EIU had no one reach double figures as 6-4 guard/forward Trae Anderson contributed nine points, while leading scorer, 6-8 junior forward Chris Oliver also added nine points on 4-of-8 shooting.  Oliver was a dismal 1-for-8 from-the-foul-line in the loss.  As a team, EIU was 3-for-14 (21.4 percent).  

-Oliver leads the team averaging 12.4 points per game, while topping the team grabbing 5.2 boards per contest.  5-7 point guard Cornell Johnston is shooting lights out from-the-perimeter through five games going 8-for-15 (53.3 percent), while 6-1 guard Dylan Chatman is 7-for-17 (41.2 percent) from beyond-the-arc.  6-4 junior guard Trae Anderson is second on the roster scoring 10.0 points per contest and grabbing 4.2 rebounds per game, second on the squad as well.

-As a team the Panthers are shooting 34.9 percent from-deep (30-for-86), while their opponents are 30-for-78 (38.5 percent) from beyond-the-arc.  EIU averaged 59.4 points a game, while allowing 61.4 points per contest and boast a +0.6 turnover margin, while compiling a 1.2 assist/turnover ratio.  The Panthers have faced a tough early season schedule with losses to Missouri State (64-53), UC Davis (63-61), Cincinnati (54-49), and Creighton (75-53).  Their lone win took place on Nov. 17 against Eureka College (81-51).

-EIU is led by third year head coach Jay Spoonhour son of longtime coach head coach Charlie Spoonhour.  He is the program's third head coach since the Panthers made the move to the NCAA Division I level in 1981.  Eastern Illinois is showing steady improvement through his three seasons increasing the conference win total by one each season.  The Panthers finished the 2013-14 season 11-19, 7-9 in OVC to finish third in the West Division qualifying for the conference tournament.

RESULTS SINCE 2007 VS. OVC
-Here are the results of the last four matchups against teams from the Ohio Valley Conference.

12/4/12-  vs. Eastern Kentucky- 63-57 L
12/6/11-  at Eastern Kentucky- 75-62 L
11/22/09-  vs. Murray State&- 84-61 L
11/21/07- vs. Tennessee Tech*- 73-70 W
&-Miami, Florida
*-1st NCAA Division I victory

NCCU VS. THE OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE    
The Eagles have taken on only five of the current  members of the OVC.  With NCCU 3-15 all-time against the teams in the league.  NCCU beat Southeast Missouri State 73-46 on March 25, 1989 to win the NCAA Division II National Championship.  In NCCU's first season during the transition to the NCAA Division I level, the Eagles beat Tennessee Tech on Nov. 21, 2007 in Durham, N.C. (73-70) to earn the first Division I win for the Eagles.  The last time the maroon and gray battled a team in that conference was Dec. 4, 2012 as the Colonels won 63-56.  

Austin Peay-  0-0
Belmont- 0-0
Eastern Illinois- 0-0
Eastern Kentucky- 0-2
Jacksonville State-  1-1
Morehead State- 0-0
Murray State- 0-1
SE Missouri State- 1-0
SIU-Edwardsville- 0-0
Tennessee State- 0-11
Tennessee Tech- 1-0
UT-Martin- 0-0

NIMROD, THE MIGHTY POINT GUARD
Senior point guard, Nimrod Hilliard IV has a name a unique name that comes from the Bible.  He is named after King Nimrod in the Book of Genesis and Chronicles.  The son of Cush and great-grandson of Noah.  He is depicted in the Bible as a man of power and a mighty hunter.  Extra-biblical traditions associating him with the Tower of Babel led to his reputation as a king who was rebellious against God.  Several Mesopotamian ruins were given Nimrod's name by eighth century Arabs, including ruins of the Assyrian city of Kalhu.

EAGLES SWOOPING AROUND PERIMETER   
Through three games, NCCU is making the outside shot even more difficult for its foes as the Eagles are holding opponents to 29.7 percent from beyond-the-arc shooting 22-for-74 from-the-outside.  Opponents are also shooting just 39.7 percent from-the-field after four games.