North Carolina Central (16-5, 8-0 MEAC, 4-5 Road)
vs.
East Tennessee State (12-8, 6-5 SoCon, 7-2 Home)
Saturday, January 31, 2015 - 7:00 p.m.
Freedom Hall (6,500) - Johnson City, Tenn.
TV/Video: SoCon Digital Network
Audio: NCCUEaglePride.com
Game Notes:  NCCU (PDF) 

THE GAME:  North Carolina Central hits the road for a non-conference match-up with East Tennessee State, a team the Eagles have not played since 1979. NCCU is riding a 10-game win streak, while the 12-8 Buccaneers have lost their last two contests, both on the road. ETSU boasts a 7-2 record at home this season and is led by 6-0 senior guard Jalen Riley, the top scorer in the SoCon at 20.0 points per game.

SCOUTING REPORT:  EAST TENNESSEE STATE
- The Buccaneers of East Tennessee State have an overall record of 12-8, including a 6-5 mark in the Southern Conference.
- ETSU ranks fifth in NCAA Division I in three-point field goals made per game with 10.3.
- Senior guard Jalen Riley leads the SoCon and ranks 16th in the nation in scoring with 20.0 points per game.
- Senior guard Rashawn Rembert tops the SoCon and ranks fourth in the nation with an average of 3.6 three-point field goals made per game (72 of 174, 41.4%).
- The Buccaneers boast a 7-2 record at home this season.

SERIES VS. EAST TENNESSEE STATE
This will be the second meeting between the Buccaneers and the Eagles. ETSU won the only meeting on Jan. 20, 1979, in Tennessee by a score of 85-66.

NCCU'S RPI IN TOP 100
According to NCAA.com (as of Jan. 30), NCCU's RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) is 81 out of 351 teams across the nation. ETSU is 164.

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. 29:

CATEGORY        NCCU    NCAA
Opp. Three-Point FG Pct.    26.8%    4th
Opp. Field Goal Pct.    36.0%    6th
Opp. Points Per Game    56.1    9th
Scoring Margin    +12.6    21st
Field Goal Percentage    47.0%    39th
Blocked Shots Per Game    4.8    46th
Steals Per Game    7.7    51st

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: fourth in three-point percentage defense (26.8%), sixth in field goal percentage defense (36.0%) and ninth in scoring defense (56.1 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 fourth in the NCAA Division I at 63.4 percent, which leads the MEAC.

NIMROD THE PLAYMAKER
NCCU senior point guard Nimrod Hilliard has scored 118 points in NCCU's last eight games combined (14.8 avg.), but the Lamar University transfer continues to lead the MEAC and rank 26th in the nation with an average of 5.6 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 27th in the country with 3.0 made three-pointers per game. He has a MEAC-high 62 baskets from behind the arch, which sits 19th in Division I.