DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's basketball team looks to keep its three-game winning streak alive in the last non-conference game of the season to open the new calendar year. NCCU will host Truett McConnell University on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. The only time the two teams faced off was in 2016 with the Eagles taking the 88-54 victory.
Full Game Notes – Game 15
Week 9 vs. Truett McConnell
2023-24 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (7-7, 0-0 MEAC)
vs.
Truett McConnell (7-7, 5-5 AAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 – 7:00 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena – Durham, N.C.
Watch: NCCUSN
Follow: Live Stats
NC CENTRAL BENCH
The Eagles haven't played a game since their 79-70 victory over Longwood on Dec. 20. During that last time out, Ja'Darius Harris led NCCU with a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double, marking the first of his career. Fred Cleveland Jr., Po'Boigh King and Devin Gordon were also in double figures.
Harris' performance earned him a MEAC Player of the Week award last Wednesday. This was the second player of the week prize for the men's basketball program as Cleveland donned the honor the previous week.
North Carolina Central is the 25th ranked three-point field goal percentage defense in the nation forcing opponents into 28.2 percent shooting from distance. That defensive category also leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Eagles look forward to locking down on defense as Truett McConnell was 2-of-17 from beyond the arc against Columbia International on Tuesday.
TRUETT McCONNELL BENCH
Truett McConnell lost its second consecutive game 77-62 on Tuesday, Jan. 2 facing Columbia International. EJ Smith was the leading scorer for the Bears with 17 points against CIU. Cainan Wright followed up with 10 points for TMU.
The Bears have two players in the top-five of their conference's field goal percentage rankings. Cory Seitz (64.7) and CJ Brown (63.2) are third and fourth in this category for the Appalachian Athletic Conference, respectively.
TMU is already into AAC play as Tuesday's match-up was the tenth conference game for the Bears. Truett McConnell currently sits fifth in the conference standings.
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