JACKSON, Miss. – Coming off a convincing 34-point victory on Saturday at Mississippi Valley State, the Eagles of North Carolina Central University challenge another Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponent on Monday night (Dec. 22 – 8 p.m. ET) at Jackson State.
 
NCCU, owner of an 8-5 overall record, has won seven of its last nine games, including two victories in-a-row.
 
The Eagles are stifling opponents defensively, allowing their foes to shoot just 36.4 percent from the field, which is No. 1 in the league and 17th in the nation. NCCU also ranks eighth in the NCAA Division I with 114 steals this season. Nate Maxey, a 6-11 junior center from San Diego, California, has been a dominant rim protector. He has amassed 15 blocked shots in the last three games, and is second in the MEAC with 28 rejections.
 
Jordan Parks, a senior forward from Queens, New York, has scored 54 points in the last two contests to top the Eagles. He is the team's leading scorer on the season, averaging 15.7 points per game, which is tied for third in the MEAC. Parks' field goal percentage of 66.9, shooting 85-of-127 from the floor, leads the conference and ranks third in NCAA Division I.
 
Jackson State dropped a 56-49 decision at Tulane in its last outing on Friday to fall to 2-10 on the season. The Tigers beat Southern Miss 66-46 at home on Thursday to end a seven-game losing skid.