North Carolina Central (17-6, 9-0 MEAC, 4-6 Road)
vs.
North Carolina A&T (6-18, 3-6 MEAC, 4-4 Home)
Saturday, February 7, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Corbett Sports Center (5,700) - Greensboro, N.C.
Audio: NCCUEaglePride.com
Game Notes: Complete PDF 
 
THE GAME:  The Rivalry! The NCCU Eagles and NC A&T Aggies meet on the hardwood for the 145th time since 1930. The Aggies have a 75-69 advantage in the series, but the Eagles have won seven of the last nine match-ups since 2011. NCCU looks to remain unbeaten in the MEAC, but the Eagles have lost six of their 10 road games this season. Only three of NCCU's nine regulars have played in this rivalry.
 
SCOUTING REPORT:  NC A&T
- The Aggies of North Carolina A&T have an overall record of 6-18, including a 3-6 mark in the MEAC.
- Junior forward Bruce Beckford leads A&T in both scoring (15.5 points per game) and rebounding (7.4 boards per game).
- After a stretch of posting four wins in six outings, the Aggies have lost four of their last five contests.
 
SERIES VS. NC A&T
This will be the 145th meeting between the Aggies and Eagles since 1930. A&T owns a 75-69 advantage in the series, but NCCU is 7-2 against A&T since 2011.
02/22/14 - NCCU 73, NCAT 55 (Greensboro, N.C.)
01/22/14 - NCCU 84, NCAT 44 (Durham, N.C.)
03/13/13 - NCAT 55, NCCU 42 (Norfolk, Va.)&
02/23/13 - NCCU 51, NCAT 47 (Durham, N.C.)
12/01/12 - NCCU 66, NCAT 62 (Greensboro, N.C.)
02/18/12 - NCCU 71, NCAT 66 (Greensboro, N.C.)
12/03/11 - NCCU 65, NCAT 46 (Durham, N.C.)
02/21/11 - NCAT 72, NCCU 67 (Durham, N.C.)
01/24/11 - NCCU 90, NCAT 84 OT (Greensboro, N.C.)
&-2013 MEAC Tournament (Quarterfinals)
 
NCCU'S RPI FALLS OUT OF TOP 100
According to NCAA.com (as of Feb. 5), NCCU's RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) is 104 out of 351 teams across the nation. NCA&T is 336.
 
EAGLES SOARING AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE
NCCU is ranked among some of the top schools in the nation (NCAA Division I) in a few statistical categories listed below, as of Feb. 4:
CATEGORY                          NCCU    NCAA
Opp. Field Goal Pct.        35.7%    3rd
Opp. Three-Point FG Pct.             26.9%    5th
Opp. Points Per Game   55.7        7th
Scoring Margin  +13.2     17th
Field Goal Percentage    47.3%    34th
 
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: third in field goal percentage defense (35.7%), fifth in three-point percentage defense (26.9%) and seventh in scoring defense (55.7 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 fifth in the NCAA Division I at 62.4 percent, which leads the MEAC.
 
NIMROD THE PLAYMAKER
NCCU senior point guard Nimrod Hilliard, a transfer from Lamar University, continues to lead the MEAC and ranks 11th in the nation with an average of 6.2 assists per game. He has distributed double-figure helpers in each of his last two games.
 
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 eighth in the country with 3.2 made three-pointers per game. He has a MEAC-high 74 baskets from behind the arch, which sits sixth in Division I.