DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University opens up Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play in a tough matchup with Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 4:00 p.m. at McDougald-McLendon Arena following the women's basketball contest at 2:00 p.m.  This will be the first of two meetings between the Eagles and Wildcats this season.

GAME NOTES
2018-19 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (5-9, 0-0 MEAC)
Vs.
Bethune-Cookman (5-9, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 – 4:00 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena – Durham, N.C.
Video/Audio: NCCU Sports Network
Stats: NCCUEaglePride.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
STARTING FIVE:
1. NCCU is 22-10 against MEAC opponents since the 2016-17 season.
2. NCCU has won 13 consecutive games at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
3. NCCU is 27-4 at home since the 2016-17 season.
4. NCCU has shot over 50 percent from the floor four times this season.
5. NCCU is 13-3 at home against MEAC opponents since the 2016-17 season.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Bethune-Cookman shares the same record as NCCU as the Wildcats finished non-conference play with a 5-9 mark.  BCU finished 2018 with a big road win at Boston University, as the Wildcats toppled the Terriers, 74-66 on Dec. 21.  Transfer forward Cletrell Pope has exploded onto the scene for BCU as he's averaging a double-double of 10.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per contest.  NCCU and BCU will meet twice this season, and the Eagles are 6-1 against the Wildcats in Durham.
 
LAST FIVE VS BETHUNE-COOKMAN:
2/13/16 at NCCU............ 90-66 W
2/27/16 at B-CU............. 61-69 L
2/25/17 at NCCU............ 78-63 W
3/8/17  at MEAC Tourney............ 95-60 W
2/12/18 at B-CU............. 81-99 L
 
30 ON 30
Raasean Davis had a career day on Dec. 30 against Wilberforce when he became the first 30+ point scorer since 2016 with 34 in his 40th career double-digit scoring performance at NCCU.  He was 15-for-16 from the floor (93.8%) and also collected a double-double with 11 rebounds.  The last 30+ point scorer was Patrick Cole with 32 at Northern Kentucky on Nov. 26, 2016.
 
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)