(Complete Game Notes as PDF)
 
North Carolina Central (7-5, 2-0 MEAC, 1-5 Road)
vs.
Mississippi Valley State (1-9, 0-0 SWAC, 0-0 Home)
Saturday, December 20, 2014 - 4:00 p.m. (ET)
The Pinnacle (Coahoma Community College) - Clarksdale, Miss.
TV/Video: none
Audio: none
 
North Carolina Central University hits the road again for the fifth of six games away from Durham in the month of December, as the Eagles play Mississippi Valley State in Clarksdale, Miss., for the first meeting between the two schools. NCCU guard Anthony McDonald returns to MVSU, where he played the 2013-14 season.
 
SCOUTING REPORT:  MISS. VALLEY STATE
- The Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils are coming off a 71-64 road loss to Northern Illinois on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
- MVSU is a Division I member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
- The Delta Devils have an overall record of 1-9, with their lone win coming against MEAC member North Carolina A&T, 66-63, on Nov. 29 in Corpus Christi, Texas. MVSU has lost its last three games.
- MVSU is averaging 59.4 points per game as a team, while shooting 32.8 percent from the field.
 
SERIES VS. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE
This will be the first meeting between NCCU and Mississippi Valley State.
 
NCCU'S RPI IN TOP 100
According to NCAA.com (as of Dec. 19), NCCU's RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) is 88 out of 351 teams across the nation. Saturday's opponent, Mississippi Valley State, ranks 298.
 
EAGLES SOARING AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE
NCCU is ranked among some of the top schools in the nation in a few statistical categories listed below, including games through Monday, Dec. 15:
 
CATEGORY                    NCCU    NCAA
Opp. Field Goal Pct..... 36.5% 20th
Opp. Points Per Game.. 56.8   24th
Steals Per Game............ 8.6    40th
Field Goal Percentage. 47.2% 60th
Scoring Margin............ +11.9  60th
Opp. Three-Point FG Pct. 29.5% 60th
Blocked Shots Per Game 4.8   62nd