GAME NOTES
2019-20 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (8-12, 4-2 MEAC)
Vs.
South Carolina State (9-10, 4-3 MEAC)
Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 – 4:00 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena – Durham, N.C.
Radio: NCCU Sports Network
Video: FloSports
Stats: NCCUEaglePride.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
STARTING FIVE:
1. NCCU is 374-293 all-time in MEAC play.
2. NCCU is 99-35 with LeVelle Moton in regular-season MEAC games since the 2011-12 season.
3. NCCU leads the MEAC in field goal percentage at 45.1% and in steals with 9.5 per game.
4. NCCU is 15-9 in February since 2016.
5. NCCU has won 10 consecutive games at home.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Despite losing its last two games, South Carolina State is in the hunt for a top-four seed with a 4-3 record in league play after the first month.  The Bulldogs are paced by Preseason First Team All-MEAC selection Damani Applewhite, who leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 13.7 points, and 7.0 boards per game.  The last time out, Applewhite scored a game-high 17 points with eight rebounds in a narrow 74-78 loss to Bethune-Cookman.  The home team has won the last six meetings.
 
LAST FIVE VS SOUTH CAROLINA STATE:
2/25/19 at NCCU........... 72-62 W
2/24/18 at SCSU............. 79-102 L
2/11/17 at NCCU............ 85-62 W
1/19/16 at SCSU............. 75-91 L
2/10/15 at NCCU............ 76-45 W
 
PERKINS THE PLAYMAKER
Junior point guard Jordan Perkins has logged a lot of time on the court in his career, totaling over 2000 minutes, and 84 appearances with 60 starts out of a possible 89 games.  With that time on the floor, he's also been a great playmaker and now stands third all-time in career assists at NCCU.  On Jan. 20, 2020 at Florida A&M he recorded his 400th career assist to become just the third Eagle to reach that career milestone.  Perkins is also second in the MEAC in assists with an average of 4.6 per game.  Below is a list of the top-five assisters at NCCU.
             .......................... Assists...... Years
1. Emanuel Chapman..... 617....... 2010-14
2. Michael Wright.......... 409. 80-81/82-85
3. Jordan Perkins........... 406........... 2017-
4. Bryan Ayala................ 366....... 2005-09
5. Donald Sinclair........... 360....... 1979-81
 
NCCU AROUND THE LEAGUE
NCCU is 99-35 in MEAC games in the Division I era since rejoining the league for the 2011- 12 season.  Below is a breakout of the Eagles' success at home and on the road in conference contests.
Home: 53-12
Away: 45-23
Neutral: 1-0
 
RUNNING EAGLES
NCCU has turned defensive into offense multiple times this year, highlighted by the Eagles holding Florida A&M scoreless for the final 8:37 of a tied game to spark a 16-0 run on the way to a 61-45 win to start league play on Jan. 4.  Below is a look at the Eagles' best scoring runs this season.
             .......................... Points........ Time
1. vs. CC (12/12/19)....... 28................ 7:32
2. vs. FAMU (1/4/20)...... 16................ 8:37
3. vs. BSC (11/21/19)...... 13................ 4:44
4. vs. MACU (12/31/19). 13................ 3:10
5. at LA Tech (12/17/19) 12................ 3:32
 
PARTY LIKE IT'S 1989
NCCU recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of its 1989 NCAA Division II National Championship, where it defeated Southeast Missouri State, 73-45, setting a record for the largest margin of victory in the title game that still stands to this day.
 
AWAY DAYS
NCCU will only play four non-conference home games this year, with two in November and two in December.  The Eagles will again only play two home games in January once MEAC play starts.  With that said, the Eagles will go 20+ days between home games twice this season.  Below is a look at the longest gaps between home games this season.
 
1. Jan. 4-25.................................... 21 Days                              
2. Nov. 21-Dec. 11........................ 20 Days                              
3. Dec 11-30.................................. 19 Days
-  Feb. 3-22.................................... 19 Days