DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University hits the road for the final time in 2017 as the Eagles travel to George Mason and Grand Canyon for the first time in program history.

GAME NOTES
2017-18 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (4-6, 0-0 MEAC)
at
George Mason (4-5, 0-0 A-10)
Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 – 4:00 p.m.
EagleBank Arena – Fairfax, Va.
Audio: NCCU Sports Network
Video: A-10 TV
Stats: GoMason.com
 
North Carolina Central (4-6, 0-0 MEAC)
at
Grand Canyon (5-2, 0-0 WAC)
Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 – 9:00 p.m.
GCU Arena – Phoenix, Ariz.
Audio: NCCU Sports Network
Video: GCU TV
Stats: GCULopes.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
STARTING FIVE:
1. NCCU will face George Mason and Grand Canyon for the first time in program history.
2. NCCU was 11-6 in road games during the 2016-17 season.
3. NCCU will played nine games in November, the most since the 2012-13 season where the Eagles played eight.
4. NCCU's non-conference schedule puts the Eagles on the road nine times out of 14 games.
5. NCCU went 9-5 in non-conference play last year.
 
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS:
George Mason is currently 3-1 at home at EagleBank Arena, having been recently defeated by William & Mary 77-70.  Jaire Grayer had a breakout performance in the last game with 24 points and seven rebounds, and teammate Otis Livingston II contributed 20 points and five assists.  Livingston currently leads the Patriots with 15.4 points and 5.1 assists per game.
 
SERIES: First meeting.
 
SCOUTING THE ANTELOPES:
Grand Canyon is yet to leave the city of Phoenix, and the Antelopes have opened 5-1 at home in GCU Arena.  GCU is spearheaded by Joshua Braun who is averaging 15.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.  Casey Benson runs the offense with 4.7 assists per game along with 12.0 points per contest.
 
SERIES: First meeting.
 
NEXT MAN UP
NCCU is one of less than 10 schools that returns zero starters from its previous season.  The Eagles bring back the second-fewest starts in the nation with 11, all coming from C.J. Wiggins, and the third-fewest total minutes with 862, 626 of which came from Pablo Rivas.
 
CRASHING THE BOARDS
NCCU pulled down the most rebounds in the Division-I era against Warren Wilson when the Eagles swept up 66 rebounds.  The Eagles topped the mark of 57 set against Barber-Scotia on Dec. 17, 2014.  This season, the Eagles also pulled down 58 boards against Christendom on Dec. 30.
 
100%
Larry McKnight, Jr. was highly efficient from the floor at Marshall as he was 7-for-7 from the field, 3-3 from the arc and 2-2 from the free throw line for 19 points.  Last season, senior forward Pablo Rivas matched a rare feat of former Eagle Dominique Sutton against Western Carolina on Nov. 16, as he went 7-for-7 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the free throw line for 18 points and nine rebounds.  McKnight and Rivas are in rare company now, joining Emmanuel Chapman as the only other Eagles to shoot 100 percent from the floor with a spotless three-point percentage as well.  Rivas shot 100 percent from the floor a second time at Missouri, but missed one free throw for 16 points and six rebounds (6-6 FG, 4-5 FT).