Delaware State (10-9, 4-1 MEAC, 6-7 Road)
vs.
North Carolina Central (15-5, 7-0 MEAC, 7-0 Home)
Monday, January 26, 2015 - 7:00 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Gym (3,116) - Durham, N.C.
TV/Video: ESPNU / WatchESPN  http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index#type/upcoming/startDate/20150126/
Audio: NCCUEaglePride.com
Live Stats:  www.sidearmstats.com/nccu/mbball/
Game Notes: Complete PDF version
 
THE GAME:  Two of the top three teams in the MEAC, North Carolina Central and Delaware State, clash in Durham, N.C., where the Eagles have not lost since Dec. 4, 2012 (Eastern Kentucky, 57-63). NCCU has beaten 25 straight MEAC teams, and boasts a 41-3 record against league foes since the start of 2012-13 season.  This season, the Eagles have won nine straight games, and 14 of their last 16 outings.
 
SCOUTING REPORT:  DELAWARE STATE
- The Hornets of Delaware State are coming off their fourth consecutive victory, a 67-52 road win at North Carolina A&T to improve their overall record to 10-9.
- Delaware State sits third in the MEAC standings with a 4-1 league record. Norfolk State is second (6-1) and NCCU is first (7-0).
- Kendall Gray, the Hornets' 6-10, 235-pound senior center, leads the NCAA Division I with 12.9 rebounds per game and tops the MEAC with 3.1 blocked shots per game.
- Amere May, a 6-3 senior guard, is the MEAC's second-leading scorer with 18.2 points per game.
- Delaware State leads the conference in free throw percentage (71.8%), rebounding (38.8 rpg), and defensive rebounds (27.6 drpg).
 
SERIES VS. DELAWARE STATE
This will be the 32nd meeting between the Hornets and the Eagles. NCCU leads the series 18-13. Since the Eagles rejoined the MEAC, the series is even at 2-2.
01/18/2014 - NCCU 62, DSU 52 (Durham, N.C.)
02/02/2013 - NCCU 54, DSU 43 (Dover, Del.)
01/28/2012 - DSU 76, NCCU 70 (Durham, N.C.)
01/08/2011 - DSU 68, NCCU 59 (Durham, N.C.)
 
NCCU'S RPI IN TOP 100
According to NCAA.com (as of Jan. 25), NCCU's RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) is 92 out of 351 teams across the nation. Delaware State is 198.
 
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 Jan. 24:
 
CATEGORY                    NCCU    NCAA
Opp. Three-Point FG Pct. 26.6% 5th
Opp. Field Goal Pct..... 36.2%  8th
Opp. Points Per Game.. 56.2   10th
Scoring Margin............ +13.2  19th
Field Goal Percentage. 47.4% 33rd
Steals Per Game............ 7.9    40th
Blocked Shots Per Game 4.9    43rd
 
DEFENSE! DEFENSE!
Under the leadership of sixth-year head coach LeVelle Moton, NCCU believes its identity is rooted in playing defense. As evidence, the Eagles rank among the NCAA Division I top-10 in three key defensive categories: fifth in three-point percentage defense (26.6%), eighth in field goal percentage defense (36.2%) and 10th in scoring defense (56.2 points allowed per game).
 
JORDAN PARKS NAMED TO LOU HENSON AWARD WATCH LIST
NCCU senior forward Jordan Parks (Queens, N.Y.) has been named to the Lou Henson Award Mid-Season Watch List, announced Jan. 21.  The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the Division I Mid-Major Player of the Year.
 
JORDAN PARKS ON THE MARK
After leading the nation in field goal shooting last season at 65.9 percent, NCCU senior forward Jordan Parks ranks third in the NCAA Division I at 64.0 percent, which leads the MEAC.
 
NIMROD THE PLAYMAKER
NCCU senior point guard Nimrod Hilliard has scored 105 points in NCCU's last seven games combined (15.0 avg.), but the Lamar University transfer continues to lead the MEAC and rank 24th in the nation with an average of 5.7 assists per game.
 
McDONALD AN ARCH EXPERT
Ronald McDonald knows golden arches. Anthony McDonald knows three-point arches. The NCCU senior sharp-shooter tops the conference and ranks 29th in the country with 2.9 made three-pointers per game. He has a MEAC-high 58 baskets from behind the arch.
 
NATION'S THIRD-LONGEST HOME WIN STREAK
NCCU boasts a 30-game home win streak, which ranks third in Division I behind Gonzaga (36) and Arizona (32). The Eagles have not lost at home since Dec. 4, 2012 (Eastern Kentucky, 57-63). The last MEAC team beat NCCU in Durham was Savannah State on Feb. 11, 2012 (67-57).  Since then 21 consecutive conference opponents have left McDougald-McLendon Gym with a loss.
 
HOWEVER... NATION'S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAK IN CALENDAR DAYS
Although NCCU's 30-game home win streak ranks third in the NCAA Division I in terms of the number of games, when looking at the length of the streak in calendar days, NCCU tops the nation.
Last Home Loss:
NCCU - Dec. 4, 2012
Gonzaga - Dec. 8, 2012
Arizona - Feb. 10, 2013
Wichita State - Feb. 27, 2013
 
NEST HAS BEEN PROTECTED
In Moton's six seasons, the Eagles have done just that - Protect the Nest, compiling a 57-13 home record during his coaching career. Here's how NCCU has fared at home since 2009:
2009-10:  7-4 (.636)
2010-11:  9-4 (.692)
2011-12:  8-3 (.727)
2012-13: 12-2 (.857)
2013-14: 14-0 (1.000)
2014-15: 7-0 (1.000)
Total:     57-13 (.814)
 
WE MUST PROTECT THE NEST
During the 2013-14 season, North Carolina Central University went unbeaten at home going 14-0, marking that feat for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.
2014-15: 7-0
2013-14: 14-0
1989-90:  13-0
1997-98:  12-0
1987-88:  12-1
1992-93:  11-1
1993-94:  11-1
1995-96:  11-1
1988-89:  9-1
 
MOTON SITS AMONG NCCU TOP 5 IN WINS
Head coach LeVelle Moton recorded his 100th victory against S.C. State on Jan. 10, 2015, becoming the fifth coach in NCCU men's basketball history to reach the 100-win milestone. Here is a list of the coaches with the most wins in program history:
Most Victories W     L    Pct. Years
1. Floyd Brown 251 194  .564     1952-70
2. John McLendon 239    68   .779       1940-52
3. Gregory Jackson 164   78   .678       1991-00
4. Michael Bernard 115  56   .673       1985-91
5. LeVelle Moton 104    72   .591       2009-
 
NCCU VS. MEAC Now that NCCU is back and established in the  conference that it helped start back in 1970, the Eagles are 309-264 against MEAC opponents all-time. The Eagles have beaten 25 straight MEAC teams, and have a 41-3 record against league foes since the start of 2012-13 season.
 
Bethune-Cookman.............. 6-4
Coppin State........................ 7-3
Delaware State............... 18-13
Florida A&M....................... 9-2
Hampton......................... 46-31
Howard........................... 40-26
Md. Eastern Shore.......... 20-16
Morgan State.................. 47-40
Norfolk State................... 11-27
North Carolina A&T........ 69-75
Savannah State................... 9-8
SC State........................... 27-19