DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University finishes up its three-game swing away from home with the first of two meetings with North Carolina A&T on Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Corbett Center.  The Eagles split the series with the Aggies last year, one game apiece.

GAME NOTES
2017-18 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (11-9, 5-1 MEAC)
at
North Carolina A&T (12-9, 5-1 MEAC)
Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 – 4:00 p.m.
Corbett Center – Greensboro, N.C.
Audio: NCCU Sports Network
Video: Lock TV
Stats: NCATAggies.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
STARTING FIVE:
1. Head coach LeVelle Moton is one win away from tying Gregory Jackson for the third-most wins all time at NCCU.
2. NCCU's next win will be the program's 1200th in 84 seasons.
3. NCCU started 4-0 in MEAC play for the first time since 2014-15, and is 5-1 for a second consecutive season.
4. Coach Moton is 91-28 all-time in regular season MEAC play.
5. NCCU is looking for its fourth regular season MEAC title in the last five seasons.
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
North Carolina A&T is currently in the mix for the league lead with a 5-1 record.  The Aggies are coming off of their first MEAC loss of the year, a 90-88 overtime loss at Howard. NC A&T is currently paced by breakout transfer Femi Olujobi who is averaging 18.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.  Last time out, Olujobi put in a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, followed by Davaris McGowins with 21 points and 14 boards.
SERIES: NC A&T leads, 72-78 / Streak: L1
 
FREE BASKETBALL
NCCU played an overtime game for the first time since the 2015-16 season when the Eagles fell 84-78 at Howard.  Under Moton, the Eagles are 7-4 in games that go to an extra frame, and 3-3 against MEAC opponents in overtime.
 
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.

COMING UP ACES
NCCU currently leads the MEAC in eight categories after a strong showing during the non-conference schedule.  The Eagles are tops in the league in scoring margin (+4.8), points allowed per game (69.1), field goal percentage (48.2), three-point percentage (37.5), opposing field goal percentage (41.7), rebounding margin (+4.9), rebounds allowed per game (32.5), and assists per game (15.4).

ROOKIE RANKING
Freshmen Reggie Gardner, Jr. and Jordan Perkins have found their way into the starting lineup, and are the first freshmen to start for the Eagles since C.J. Wiggins during the 2015-16 season.  Gardner and Perkins are both statistically ranked within the MEAC, as well.  Gardner is top-20 in scoring with an average of 11.8 points per game and is a volume shooter from the perimeter, ranking sixth in threes per game with 2.4.  Perkins has taken on his role as a point guard and is sixth in the league in assists with 4.8 per outing and is fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio with a positive 1.9.