DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's basketball team will play its final game of the 2023 calendar year on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. hosting Longwood. This will be the second game against the Lancers this season as the Eagles traveled to Farmville, Va. in November.
Week 7 vs. Longwood
2023-24 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (6-7, 0-0 MEAC)
vs.
Longwood (12-1, 0-0 Big South)
Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 – 3:00 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena – Durham, N.C.
Watch: NCCUSN
Follow: Live Stats
NC CENTRAL BENCH
The Eagles helped make history the last time they stepped on the court as NCCU defeated St. Andrews 102-50 on Dec. 15. The victory marked the 252nd for head coach LeVelle Moton, passing Floyd Brown to become the all-time winningest basketball coach at North Carolina Central University.
Fred Cleveland Jr. is coming off a week averaging 21.5 points and seven assists in two games. Cleveland notched two career-highs scoring 30 points against St. Andrews and passing for 10 assists at North Carolina A&T. Junior Timmy Adedire also earned a career-high after grabbing 14 boards against St. Andrews last Friday.
For the first time this season, NCCU has won back-to-back games after a tough non-conference and road schedule. The Eagles have one more non-conference game at the beginning of 2024 before MEAC play begins.
Defense has been the cornerstone for NCCU as the team is top-two in five different defensive categories in the conference, including first in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.291) which is also 45th in the nation.
LONGWOOD BENCH
Longwood University has only lost one game so far this season dropping a 73-69 contest at St. Bonaventure the opening game. The Lancers' most recent game was a 68-49 victory over Virginia Military Institute on Dec. 17. Walyn Napper and Szymon Zapala were the leading scorers for LU with 19 and 15 respectively. Napper also had 19 in the November meeting between NCCU and Longwood in a 73-66 win at home.
LU currently sits in the top-10 in scoring defense in the nation, holding opponents to 60.2 ranking eighth. Longwood also holds a 13.6 rebounding margin ranking them third in the nation in this statistic.
The Lancers have played four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schools during non-conference including UMES, Delaware State and Morgan State. LU also participated in a home and home series with Delaware State defeating the Hornets both times including a double-overtime game.
