DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University hosts Norfolk State for the first time since the 2017 MEAC Tournament Championship game as the Eagles play their first home conference game of the 2017-18 campaign.

GAME NOTES
2017-18 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (7-8, 1-0 MEAC)
Vs.
Norfolk State (3-12, 1-0 MEAC)
Monday, January 8, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena – Durham, North Carolina
Audio / Video: NCCU Sports Network
Stats: NCCUEaglePride.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
STARTING FIVE:
1. NCCU is 344-278 all-time against the MEAC.
3. NCCU played nine games in November, the most since the 2012-13 season where the Eagles played eight.
4. Coach Moton is 87-27 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 SPARTANS
Norfolk State travels to Durham after having its Saturday game at North Carolina A&T postponed due to Winter Storm Grayson.  The Spartans won their league opener against Coppin State, 75-67 behind Mastadi Pitt's 17 points from the bench.  Preston Bungei contributed eight points and 12 boards in the contest as well.  Stephen Whitley is a do-it-all player for NSU right now, leading in scoring, rebounding, and assists with 11.0 points, 5.9 boards and 3.9 helpers per outing.
SERIES: NSU leads, 29-13
 
GOOD YEAR
During the calendar year of 2017, NCCU has won 22 games, the most since 2014 when the Eagles garnered 30 wins.  Here's a look at the last four calendar years:
             2017:................. 22-12
             2016:................. 17-15
             2015:................. 20-12
             2014:................. 30-7
 
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 seven categories after a strong showing during the non-conference schedule.  The Eagles are tops in the league in scoring margin (+4.3), points allowed per game (70.1), field goal percentage (48.8), three-point percentage (37.2), rebounding margin (+5.1), rebounds allowed per game (31.4), and assists per game (15.1)
 
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 11.6 points per game and is a volume shooter from the perimeter, ranking fifth in threes per game with 2.3.  Perkins has taken on his role as a point guard and is fifth in the league in assists with 4.3 per outing and is sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio with a positive 1.8.