2015-16 REGULAR SEASON
North Carolina Central (7-12, 2-3 MEAC, 5-3 Home)
vs.
Hampton (9-7, 5-0 MEAC, 5-5 Road)
Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 – 9:00 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena (3,116) – Durham, North Carolina
TV/Video: ESPNU / WatchESPN.com
Audio: NCCUEaglePride.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
THE GAME: NCCU goes in front of the cameras at home in primetime for the third-straight year as the Eagles host Hampton.  While the Pirates are undefeated in conference play this season, NCCU is unbeaten against Hampton since the Eagles have transitioned to Division I and rejoined the MEAC.  This is the first conference meeting between the two sides in Durham since the transition.
 
SCOUTING THE PIRATES:
-Hampton is the reigning MEAC tournament champion, and carry a 5-0 conference record into this game.  The Pirates finished the season 17-18 with an 8-8 mark in the league to finish sixth.  Hampton defeated Manhattan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Kentucky in the second round.
-The Pirates bring three of the top 10 scorers in the MEAC into this game, including the league's leading rebounder.  Quinton Chievous (Chicago, Ill.) is currently pulling down 10.4 rebounds per game and averaging 16.8 points per contest to rank fourth in the conference.  Reginald Johnson, Jr. (Chicago, Ill.) leads the Pirates with 16.9 points per game which is third in the MEAC and also leads with assists at 3.6 per outing.  Brian Darden (Hampton, Va.) rounds out the trio with 15.1 points per game, knocking down 2.9 treys per game, which is third in the league as well.
-Hampton comes to Durham from a 79-62 win over North Carolina A&T on Saturday, Jan. 16.  Johnson flirted with a triple-double with 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and added four steals as well.  Johnson nailed six three-pointers, and Darden hit four on his way to 17 points.  Chievous added 10 points and six rebounds for Hampton as well.
 
SERIES: NCCU leads, 46-31.
 
NCCU VS. HAMPTON:
NCCU leads the all-time series against Hampton 46-31, and are 4-0 in the Division I era.  The Eagles have seen Hampton three times for conference games in the last four meetings, and all of those games have been in Hampton.  The only time these sides have met in McDougald-McLendon Arena was a nonconference meeting on Jan. 7, 2014 when the Eagles won 74-61.