GAME NOTES
2019-20 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (1-1, 0-0 MEAC)
at
Akron (1-1, 0-0 MAC)
Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 – 7:00 p.m.
James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
TV: ESPN3
Radio: Fox Sports Radio 1350 AM
Stats: GoZips.com
 
North Carolina Central (1-1, 0-0 MEAC)
at
#4/5 Louisville (3-0, 1-0 ACC)
Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019 – 5:00 p.m.
KFC YUM! Center – Louisville, Ky.
TV: ACC Network
Radio: TuneIn
Stats: GoCards.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
STARTING FIVE:
1. NCCU begins its 87th season of men's basketball with over 1,200 wins.
2. LeVelle Moton is coaching his 11th season with NCCU, and is just the third coach in program history with 10+ seasons.
3. NCCU will face seven opponents for the first time during non-conference play.
4. NCCU will face a nationally-ranked opponent for the 10th time in the Division I era.
5. NCCU is 15-1 at home during non-conference play since 2016.
 
SCOUTING THE ZIPS
Akron is off to a 1-1 start to the season following a narrow 94-84 loss on the road at West Virginia in its last time out.  The Zips made a trip to the Mid-American Conference quarterfinal last season and finished with a 17-16 mark.  One of Akron's leading returners is Loren Cristian Jackson who averaged 13.9 points and 3.1 assists per contest last year.  He leads the club in scoring over the first two games with 14.0 points and 4.5 helpers per outing.
 
LAST FIVE VS. AKRON
First Meeting.
 
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
The nationally-ranked Cardinals have started the year 3-0, including an ACC victory over Miami on the road, 87-74.  Louisville is led by Associated Press Preseason All-American and preseason ACC Player of the Year, Jordan Nwora who averaged 17.0 points and 7.6 boards on his way to being named the ACC's Most Improved Player for the 2018-19 season.  Nwora is yet to contribute less than 20 points this season through three games, scoring at a rate of 21.7 points per contest with 7.7 caroms tacked on.
 
LAST FIVE VS. LOUISVILLE
First Meeting.
 
NCCU VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
The Eagles have battled their fair share of teams ranked in the Top-25 in the Division I era, but have found it tough going with a 0-10 mark.
11/9/07 ...................... at #13 Duke 56-121 L*
11/14/08 .................... at #21 Wake Forest    48-94 L
12/29/08...................... at #23/24 Michigan     57-77 L
11/11/09...................... at #4/6 North Carolina   47-89 L
2/22/12........................ at #23 Indiana 56-75 L
12/22/13...................... at #9/11 Wichita State   66-77 L
03/21/14...................... vs. #8 Iowa State 75-93 L!
11/14/14...................... at #6/6 North Carolina   60-76 L
12/10/14...................... at #19 Maryland 56-67 L
11/9/18........................ at #22/23 Clemson     61-77 L
*- First NCAA Division I Game
!- NCAA Tournament (East Region)
 
NCCU VS. ACC                                                                                            
NCCU has played seven of the league's 16 teams since making the move to Division I, compiling a 1-18 record.  The Eagles lone victory came on Nov. 22, 2013 against NC State when the maroon and gray pulled off the major upset 82-72 in overtime in PNC Arena. Here is a breakdown of NCCU's games against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.
 
11/09/07................... at Duke...........            56-121 L
11/19/07................... at Wake Forest.            58-75 L
1/09/08..................... at NC State.....            29-54 L
11/14/08................... at Wake Forest.            48-94 L
1/03/09..................... at Miami.........            42-76 L
2/03/09..................... at NC State.....            59-87 L
11/11/09................... at #4/6 North Carolina   42-89 L
11/14/09................... at Miami.........            53-83 L
1/18/10..................... at Virginia Tech            30-72 L
1/30/10..................... at NC State.....            42-77 L
11/19/10................... at Miami.........            65-88 L
11/20/11................... at Wake Forest.            79-93 L
12/11/11................... at NC State.....            60-65 L
11/20/13................... at NC State.....            82-72 OT W
12/31/13................... at Maryland.....            56-70 L
11/14/14................... at #6/6 UNC....            76-60 L
3/17/15..................... at Miami%.......            75-71 L
11/13/15................... at Clemson......            40-74 L
11/9/18..................... at #22/23 Clemson       51-77 L
-%- 2015 NIT
 
NCCU VS. MAC
The Eagles have faced just four members of the 12-team Mid-American Conference in the Division I era. However, NCCU has gone 0-4 in those meetings.
1/2/08. ..................... at Western Michigan      43-79 L
11/17/08................... at Kent State               42-83 L
12/21/09 .................. at Ball State                45-59 L
11/15/18 .................. at Bowling Green          60-75 L