2015-16 REGULAR SEASON
North Carolina Central (5-8, 1-1 MEAC, 0-6 Road)
vs.
Mississippi State (6-5, 0-0 SEC, 4-1 Home)
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 – 2:00 p.m. ET
Humphrey Coliseum (10,500) – Starkville, Mississippi
Video: SEC Network+
Audio: NCCUEaglePride.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
THE GAME: NCCU closes 2015 with a trip to Mississippi State to see a new opponent for the seventh time this season on New Year's Eve.  The Eagles are looking for their first road win of the season to provide a jump start to the year on the horizon.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:
-Mississippi State is a member of the Southeastern Conference and went 13-19 last season with a 6-12 record within the SEC.  MSU was bounced from the SEC Championship Tournament in the first round by Auburn 68-74.
-The Bulldogs are spearheaded by Gavin Ware (Starkville, Miss.) who is putting in 17.8 points per game with 7.7 rebounds per contest.  I.J. Ready (North Little Rock, Ark.) is the team's leading assist maker with 4.8 helpers per game along with 11.1 points per game.  Malik Newman (Jackson, Miss.) is contributing greatly as a freshman, averaging 13.1 points per game.
-Mississippi State last defeated Northern Colorado 93-69 off-campus in Jackson, Mississippi.  Newman scored a game-high 20 points, followed by Ware with 19 points and six rebounds.  Ready contributed eight points with a game-high 11 assists.
 
SERIES: This is the first meeting between NCCU and Mississippi State.
 
NCCU VS. SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE:
The SEC holds 14 member institutions and NCCU has faced two.  The Eagles faced both Arkansas and South Carolina during the 2008 season, falling in both contests.  Here's a look at NCCU's record against the SEC.
12/10/08.......................... at Arkansas   70-98 L
12/16/08.......................... at South Carolina  43-90 L