DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University starts a four-game road swing at Appalachian State on Saturday, Dec. 8, in what will be just the second all-time meeting between the two programs.  NCCU and App State last met in Durham in 2013, where the Eagles took a 76-70 overtime victory.

GAME NOTES
2018-19 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (4-5, 0-0 MEAC)
at
Appalachian State (3-5, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 – 2:00 p.m.
Holmes Convocation Center – Boone, N.C.
Video: ESPN+
Audio: NCCU Sports Network
Stats: AppStateSports.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
STARTING FIVE:
1. Head coach LeVelle Moton has now won 175 games at NCCU, and has passed Gregory Jackson for the third-most wins all time at NCCU.
2. Moton will coach his 300th game on Dec. 8, and has coached the third-most games all-time at NCCU.
3. NCCU is 26-4 at home since the 2016-17 season.
4. NCCU has shot over 50 percent from the floor four times this season.
5. NCCU went 6-8 in non-conference play in the 2017-18 season.
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Appalachian State is 3-5 with all three wins coming at home at the Holmes Center, including a high-scoring 100-86 victory over MEAC member Howard on Dec. 4.  The Mountaineers were picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt, and are led by preseason First Team selection Ronshad Shabazz who is currently averaging 19.0 points per game with 19 made three pointers.  This is just the second all-time meeting between the Eagles and Mountaineers, after NCCU won a 76-70 overtime thriller at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Nov. 22, 2013.
 
LAST FIVE VS APP STATE:
11/22/13........................ vs. App State 76-70 W-OT
 
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.
 
STICKY FINGERS
North Carolina Central University tied a Division I school record with 23 steals against Christendom on Nov. 28, matching the mark set against Johnson & Wales on Nov. 12, 2012.  Redshirt freshman Nicolas Fennell also recorded eight steals to tie for second-most in a single game in the DI era.
 
50-50
NCCU shot over 50 percent in back-to-back games for the first time since 2017 when the Eagles shot 62.9 percent against Warren Wilson and 51.1 percent at George Mason for a two-game percentage of 57.0 with 67 made field goals.  The Eagles did it again on Nov. 24 and 28 against Southern (53.1%) and Christendom (58.3%) for a combined 55.7 percent. Here's a look at the Eagles' best two-game shooting performances in the Division I era.
 
60.7%   vs. JWU, at MDES  (Dec. 2-5, 2014, 74 FG)
59.4%   vs. BSC, at MVSU (Dec. 20-22, 2014, 74 FG)
58.6% vs. VUL, at FAMU (Jan. 8-12, 2013, 71 FG)
57.5% vs. MSU, vs. BCU (Feb. 21-28, 2015, 58 FG)
57.1% at NSU, vs. HOW (March 6-12, 2014, 57 FG)
57.0% vs. WWC, at GMU (Nov. 18-20, 2018, 67 FG)
55.7% vs. SU, vs. CC (Nov. 24-28, 2018, 68 FG)
 
LONG DISTANCE CONNECTIONS
NCCU set new Division I era records with 17 made three-pointers and 34 assists against Warren Wilson on Nov. 18, and also tied a school record for most points in a 123-57 victory.  The Eagles also had six players record double-digits.
 
LEAVING A MARK
Head coach LeVelle Moton is in his 10th year at the helm of the Eagle men's basketball program and has now reached the 300-game plateau in his career.  He's third all-time on the list, and just the third coach to reach 300 games.  Here's a look at coaches with the most games coached at NCCU.
 
Most Games............................................ G                      Years
1. Floyd Brown..................................... 445                  1952-70
2. John McLendon............................... 307                  1940-52
3. LeVelle Moton................................. 300                      2009-
4. Gregory Jackson............................... 242                  1991-00
5. Michael Bernard.............................. 171                  1985-91