GAME NOTES
2021-22 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (14-12, 7-3 MEAC)
at
Howard (14-11, 7-4 MEAC)
Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 – 4:00 p.m.
Burr Gymnasium – Washington, D.C.
Video: Bison Live
Stats: HUBison.com
 
North Carolina Central (14-12, 7-3 MEAC)
at
Norfolk State (18-6, 9-2 MEAC)
Monday, Feb. 28, 2022 – 7:30 p.m.
Echols Hall – Norfolk, Va.
Video: Spartan Showcase
Stats: NSUSpartans.com
 
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
 
STARTING FIVE:
1. LeVelle Moton is now the third coach in program history to reach 200 wins.
2. NCCU is 117-44 in the Division I era in regular-season MEAC games.
3. NCCU ranks third or higher in the MEAC in 10 different team statistics.
4. NCCU is 29-16 in the month of February since the 2016-17 season.
5. NCCU is 51-28 on the road in regular season MEAC games in the DI era.
 
SCOUTING THE BISON
NCCU meets both Howard and Norfolk State in a critical spot of the league schedule, as all three teams still have a chance to win the regular season title.  The Bison just had a six-game winning streak snapped after a narrow 86-82 loss to Coppin State at home, and are now 7-4 in league play.  Kyle Foster put in 27 points, and Elijah Hawkins tossed in 23 points with five boards and seven assists.  Foster leads Howard with 16.7 points per game, followed by Steve Settle with 14.0 points, and Hawkins with 12.9.  The Bison won the first matchup between NCCU and Howard, 75-74 in overtime, but not before the Eagles overcame a 24-point deficit.
 
LAST FIVE VS HOWARD:
1/29/22 at NCCU      74-75 L-OT
2/24/20 at NCCU      80-65 W
2/18/19 at Howard   98-90 W
2/19/18 at NCCU      83-66 W
1/20/18 at Howard   79-84 L-OT
 
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Norfolk State had a three-game winning streak broken after it was felled by Morgan State on the road, 85-74, but still leads the conference with a 9-2 record.  Three Spartans reached double-digits, led by Joe Bryant with 20 points, and Jalen Hawkins pushed the offense with 18 points and five assists.  Bryant paces the Spartans with 16.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and Kris Bankston is a factor in the paint with 10.7 points and a team-leading 6.9 boards per game.  NCCU won the first meeting against NSU in Durham, 70-67, after a dramatic comeback that culminated in a late three from Kris Monroe.  The home team has won the last four non-neutral site meetings.
 
LAST FIVE VS NORFOLK STATE:
1/31/22 at NCCU      70-67 W
3/11/21 at MEAC      58-87 L
2/3/20   at NCCU      69-63 W
3/16/19 at MEAC      50-47 W
2/16/19 at NSU        70-75 L-OT
 
DOWN, BUT NOT OUT
NCCU proved that it won't relent until the game has ended when the Eagles recovered 34 points in two games against Howard and Norfolk State.  The Eagles trailed by 24 in the first half against the Bison and forced that game into overtime after taking the lead with seven minutes to go.  NCCU then went on to win after trailing NSU by 10 by snatching the lead with just 1:37 remaining after a three by Kris Monroe.  The Eagles have now come back to take leads after trailing by 10 points or more six times this season, and have won five of those games.
 
BUSINESS IS BOONE-ING
Eric Boone showed off his court vision at the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic, and dished out a season-best 13 assists.  13 assists at the time was the sixth-most in a single game in NCAA Division I this season, and tied for the fourth-most all-time at NCCU.  Boone has also been one of the top defenders in the nation, as he's third in NCAA DI with 2.7 steals per game, and is sixth in total steals with 64.
 
ON THE WRIGHT PATH
Sophomore guard Justin Wright has taken a big step forward in his second season, and broke out for 10.3 points per contest during a four-game stretch from Dec. 1-9 that culminated in a career-high 20 points against Carver on Dec. 9.  He also averaged 4.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per outing, and shot 40.0 percent from the floor, and 80.0 percent from the free throw line during the run.  Wright has gone on to reach a career-high of 25 points against Coppin State on Feb. 5, and has topped 20 points against MEAC opponents six times this season, including a career-high 32-point outburst against Delaware State on Feb. 19.  In league play, Wright is the third-leading scorer with 19.7 points per game, and is fifth in field goal percentage at 52.2.