DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University will tie up its season-opening road swing this week at Cincinnati on Tuesday, Nov. 13, and Bowling Green on Thursday, Nov. 15.  Both games will be live on ESPN3 at 7:00 p.m.  

GAME NOTES
2018-19 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (0-1, 0-0 MEAC)
at
Cincinnati (0-1, 0-0 AAC)
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 – 7:00 p.m.
Fifth Third Arena – Cincinnati, Ohio
Video: Fox Sports Ohio / ESPN3
Stats: GoBearcats.com
 
North Carolina Central (0-1, 0-0 MEAC)
at
Bowling Green (1-1, 0-0 MAC)
Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018 – 7:00 p.m.
Stroh Center – Bowling Green, Ohio
Video: ESPN3
Stats: BGSUFalcons.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
STARTING FIVE:
1. Head coach LeVelle Moton has now won 171 games at NCCU, and has passed Gregory Jackson for the third-most wins all time at NCCU.
2. NCCU has now won over 1200 games in the 84th season of the program history.
3. NCCU is looking for its first Division I victory in the state of Ohio.
4. NCCU will start the year with a three-game road trip for the second consecutive year.
5. NCCU went 6-8 in non-conference play in the 2017-18 season.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati tied a school win record with a 31-5 mark during the 2017-18 season, and won the American Athletic Conference Regular-Season and Tournament championship with a 16-2 league record.  The Bearcats made their eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as well.  UC was picked to finish second in the AAC this season, and junior guard Jarron Cumberland was selected to the preseason first team after averaging 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists, while starting all 36 games last year.  The Bearcats fell in its season-opener at home against Ohio State, 56-64 on Nov. 7, and Cumberland led the way with a game-high 22 points.
 
LAST FIVE VS CINCINNATI:
11/8/13..................... at Cincinnati 61-74 L
11/25/14................... at Cincinnati 50-59 L
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Bowling Green went 16-16 last season and finished fourth in the Mid-American Conference with a 7-11 ledger.  This season, the Falcons were selected to finish sixth in the MAC poll, and senior forward Demajeo Wiggins was a Preseason All-MAC East Division pick after putting up 13.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per outing last year.  BG has started its season 1-1, and will visit VCU on Nov. 12 before hosting the Eagles.
 
LAST FIVE VS BOWLING GREEN:
First Meeting
 
THREE IN FIVE
NCCU made its third NCAA Tournament appearance within the last five years, and the Eagles are still on the hunt for their first win.  NCCU's first trip was as a No. 14 seed against Iowa State, and the Eagles were defeated 93-75 during the 2014 tournament.  In 2017, the Eagles also went to Dayton for the First Four and were felled by UC Davis, 67-63.  During the 2018 tournament, the Eagles were bested by Texas Southern, 46-64.
 
LONG ROAD AHEAD
NCCU will play just four games at home at McDougald-McLendon Arena before January, the fewest since the 2014-15 season where the Eagles also hosted four bouts.
 
TOUGH STARTS
Since beginning the transition to Div. I in the 2007-08 season, NCCU is 1-10 in season openers.  The lone win came at home against Johnson & Wales in 2010, while all 10 losses have come on the road.
11/9/07..................... at #13 Duke 56-121 L
11/14/08................... at #21 Wake Forest      48-94 L
11/11/09................... at #4/6 North Carolina   42-89 L
11/12/10................... vs. Johnson & Wales      90-30 W
11/11/11................... at Charlotte 57-73 L
11/10/12................... at Wichita State 57-71 L
11/8/13..................... at Cincinnati@ 61-74 L
11/14/14................... at #6/6 North Carolina   60-76 L
11/13/15................... at Clemson 40-74 L
11/12/16................... at Marshall 69-81 L
11/10/17................... at Illinois-Chicago          55-65 L
11/9/18..................... at #22/#23 Clemson     51-77 L
@-Global Sports Hoops Shootout
 
BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS
For the first time in the Division-I era, NCCU has captured back-to-back MEAC Tournament championships, and will head to the NCAA Tournament in consecutive years.  This is also the first time the Eagles have won the tournament without being the No. 1 seed, winning the tournament as the No. 6 seed for the first time since Hampton in 2015.  The Eagles are also the first back-to-back MEAC Tournament champion since Hampton in 2015 and 2016.
 
OUR HOUSE
NCCU is enjoying one of its most successful spells in the Division-I era, as the Eagles have made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2016 and 2017 for the first time since transitioning.  Since 2016, the Eagles are 23-4 at McDougald-McLendon Arena and13-3 against MEAC opponents.