NCCU (20-5, 11-1 MEAC, 8-5 Road)
vs.
NC A&T (8-19, 4-8 MEAC, 6-3 Home)
Feb. 22, 2014 - 6:00 p.m. (EST)
- Corbett Sports Center (6,700) - Greensboro, N.C. -
TV/Video: NCATAggies.com
Audio: 99.9 HD3-The Ticket, Sirius-110, XM-197, NCCUEaglePride.com
Game Notes: NCCU at NC A&T (PDF)
THE GAME
After beating Savannah State on Monday night, North Carolina Central University heads to the Gate City for the rematch between the Eagles and the Aggies of North Carolina A&T. NCCU took the first matchup 84-44 on Jan. 22 in the Bull City. NCCU looks keep focused and make it 13-straight wins on the season.
THE SERIES
A&T and NCCU have met 143 previous times with the Aggies owning a 75-68 advantage in the series that dates back to 1930. Since the maroon and gray have joined the NCAA Division I level, the Eagles have had some success against NC A&T, but the Aggies ousted the second-seeded NCCU in the quarterfinals of the 2013 MEAC Basketball Tournament on the way to the program's 16th championship. NCCU is 6-2 against A&T since 2011.
1/22/14- vs. NC A&T- 84-44 W
3/13/13- vs. NC A&T&- 42-55 L
2/23/13- vs. NC A&T- 51-47 W
12/1/12- at NC A&T- 66-62 W
2/18/12- at NC A&T- 71-66 W
12/3/11- vs. NC A&T- 65-46 W
2/21/11- vs. NC A&T- 67-72 L
1/24/11- at NC A&T- 90-84 W (OT)
&-2013 MEAC Tournament (Quarterfinals)
NCCU SPORTS NETWORK
The NCCU Sports Network will have full coverage of Saturday's Eagle/Aggie twinbill as play-by-play voice Chris Hooks will call all the live action from the Corbett Sports Center. The Heritage Sports Radio Network will simulcast the doubleheader on satellite radio (Sirius Ch. 110, XM Ch. 197) and as many as 17 terrestrial stations across the United States. Fans can also listen to the men's contest live on 99.9 HD3-The Ticket. Both games are available online at NCCUEaglePride.com and the NCCU Sports Network App. To interact with the broadcast, follow @NCCUAthletics on twitter, use the hashtags NCCUMBB NCCUWBB, and send and e-mail to whooks@nccu.edu or nccusn@nccu.edu.
SCOUTING REPORT: NC A&T
-Since Jan. 22 when the Eagles routed the Aggies 84-44, North Carolina A&T has baffled pundants around the league going 2-7 with two three-game losing streaks in between wins. The Aggies beat Morgan State 68-67 (Jan. 25) who is battling for position at second through fourth with Hampton and Norfolk State, while A&T lost to Maryland Eastern Shore 67-60 (Feb. 1). Two of the three losses heading into this matchup have been by five points or loss. In fact, the Aggies led SC State with a minute to go before dropping that game in overtime 75-70.
-NC A&T is loaded with talent as the Aggies are led by the dynamic duo of senior guards. Senior guard Richaud Pack and Lamont Middleton are tied for the team lead averaging 17.5 points per game. Middleton sits fourth in the MEAC in scoring, while Pack is fifth as the two are separated by just one point. Middleton has 473 points on the year, while Pack has 472. Pack is 13th in the conference in field goal percentage shooting 45.6 percent from-the-field, while both he and Middleton sit sixth (81.9 percent) and 15th (78.5 percent) in the conference from the foul line respectively. Sophomore forward Bruce Beckford is second in the conference in rebounding at 7.5 board per game and first in defensive rebounds at 6.0 per contest, while senior point guard Jeremy Underwood is seventh in the MEAC in Assists averaging 3.0 per game. Pack is also fourth in the league from beyond-the-arc shooting 39.2 percent, while center Bryan Akinkugbe is sevent in the conference averaging 1.3 blocks per game.
-As a team, NC A&T is seventh in the league in scoring offense (66.2 points per game), 10th in in scoring defense at (73.9 points per game), fourth in free-throw percentage at (70.8 percent), 10th in field goal percentage (38.9 percent), seventh in field goal percentage defense (43.4 percent), seventh in three-point field goal percentage (31.6 percent), and ninth in three-point field goal percentage defense (35.8 percent).
-Since renewing the rivalry, all three matchups inside the Corbett Sports Center have been hotly contested with the average margin of victory for the maroon and gray 5.0 points with only one matchup going into overtime.
-The Aggies are led by second year head coach Cy Alexander who is no stranger to the MEAC after his days at South Carolina State where led the Bulldogs to five tournament championships in seven appearances. Alexander was also successful at Tennessee State where he led the Tigers to the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship game. In his first season at A&T he took the veteran squad on an unprecedented run to the tournament championship as a seven seed and has compiled a record of 27-36 during his time. Throughout his 24-year career he's compiled a 377-346 record.
NCCU VS. MEAC
Throughout NCCU's illustrious basketball history, the Eagles have taken on every team in the conference that it helped start back in 1970. NCCU is 295-264 against MEAC opponents all-time.
Bethune-Cookman- 6-4
Coppin State- 6-3
Delaware State- 18-13
Florida A&M- 9-2
Hampton- 45-31
Howard- 38-26
Md. Eastern Shore- 19-16
Morgan State- 46-40
Norfolk State- 8-27
North Carolina A&T- 68-75
Savannah State- 7-8
SC State- 25-19
