GAME NOTES Week 1 at #1 Kansas & vs. VU Lynchburg
2023-24 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)
at
#1 Kansas (0-0, 0-0 BIG 12)
Monday, Nov. 6, 2023 – 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT)
Allen Fieldhouse – Lawrence, Kan.
Watch: Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Follow: Live Stats
 
Vs.
VU Lynchburg (0-2, 0-0 NCCAA)
Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 – 7:00 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena – Durham, N.C.
Watch: NCCU Sports Network
Follow: Live Stats
 
STARTING FIVE:
1. NCCU begins its 91st season with close to 1300 victories.
2. LeVelle Moton moved up to second in wins at NCCU passing John McLendon last season.
3. NCCU opens the season at No. 1 Kansas for an inaugural meeting between the two programs.
4. The Eagles are 31-1 at home in non-conference games since 2016.
5. NCCU led the conference in defense last season, holding conference opponents to an average of 65.9 points per game.
 
 
The MCLENDON CLASSIC
The inaugural meeting between NCCU and Kansas is known as the McLendon Classic, honoring the contributions made by John McLendon at both schools. Before McLendon made his way to coach NCCU (formerly known as North Carolina College) from 1940-1952, he worked at the University of Kansas with Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. Dr. Naismith was the first basketball coach at Kansas and an advisor and mentor to McLendon. The game between the two programs is only one part of the two-day festivities. There will also be a community event, featuring a movie screening of Fast Break: The Legendary John McLendon, followed by a round table discussion between Coach Moton and Coach Bill Self.
 
 
2023-24 MEAC PRESEASON HONORS
Fred Cleveland Jr, senior guard, was voted to the preseason All-MEAC Third Team. This is Cleveland's first preseason honor. He played in 29 games during the 2022-23, averaging 5.6 points per game and 2.8 assists per game. His assist average was eighth in the conference last season. The Eagles were picked to finish third in the MEAC.
 
 
EAGLE'S ELEVEN
NCCU has brought in 11 new players for the 2023-24 season, and only one is a freshman. The 10 transfers range from different states, countries, and conferences, with two flying into the nest from the same previous school. Six players transferred in from junior colleges, and the remaining four are coming in from Division I programs. Junior Keishon Porter is the only new face whose played for both NJCAA and Division I level schools.
 
 
GLOBAL NEST
Three Eagles flew into the nest this season who were born in countries outside of the United States. Sophomore Kye Dickson was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Emmanuel Izunabor was born  in Lagos, Nigeria and now calls Fayetteville, N.C. home. Gbenga Olubi is originally from Enfield, England and now lives in Corona, Calif.
 
 
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE
The Eagles finished the 2022-23 season in the top-three of three different defensive categories in the MEAC. With the two players that were first in the conference in blocks and steals graduating last season, NCCU will rely on a total team effort on defense.
 
 
EAGLE OFFENSE
During the 2022-23 season, the Eagles were second in the MEAC in offense, averaging 75.6 points per game, only 0.2 shy of first with Norfolk State. Below are the games where NCCU won while scoring over that average last season.
 
 
AWAY FROM HOME
NCCU has four straight games on the road during non-conference play. Men's basketball starts this stretch at Longwood (Nov. 18), followed by the Campbell Classic where they battle the host Campbell (Nov. 20) and The Citadel (Nov. 21) in Buies Creek, N.C. NCCU travels to Conway, S.C. for a contest against Coastal Carolina (Nov. 26) after Thanksgiving. Another road trip is set in December, which includes three games ending with the Eagles playing rival North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. This will be the first meeting since North Carolina A&T left the MEAC.
 
 
THE BRINK OF HISTORY
Head coach LeVelle Moton is in his 15th year at the helm of the Eagle men's basketball program, coaching 430 games. Moton coached his 308th game on Jan. 19, 2019, against Coppin State to move past John McLendon into second place on the list. He's second all-time on the list, and just the third coach to reach 300 games.