DURHAM, N.C. – With an active four-game winning streak, North Carolina Central University men's basketball team hosts Howard University on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 12 p.m. for the first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game of the season. This game will be one of two televised on ESPNU this year for NCCU. The Eagles will then turn their attention to Norfolk State for a home game on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Full Game Notes – Game 16
(Updated game notes for Norfolk State game will be posted on Sunday, Jan. 7)
Week 9 vs. Howard & Norfolk State
2023-24 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (8-7, 0-0 MEAC)
vs.
Howard (5-10, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 – 12:00 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena – Durham, N.C.
Watch: ESPNU
Tickets: Purchase HERE
Follow: Live Stats
vs.
Norfolk State (9-7, 0-0 MEAC)
Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 – 7:30 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena – Durham, N.C.
Watch: NCCU Sports Network
Tickets: Purchase HERE
Follow: Live Stats
NC CENTRAL BENCH
NCCU is coming off a 112-70 victory over Truett McConnell on Jan. 3. The Eagles were led by Fred Cleveland Jr. who scored 23 points in 27 minutes of action. He also passed for six assists and only missed one shot (8-of-9) and was perfect from beyond the arc (4-of-4). Ja'Darius Haris, Po'Boigh King, Devin Gordon and Keishon Porter all joined Cleveland in double figure scoring.
Wednesday's triumph over TMU was the fourth consecutive win for NC Central and closed out the non-conference schedule. NCCU has a 36-2 record defending home court against opponents outside of the MEAC.
The Eagles are top-20 in two different categories in the nation. NCCU ranks 14th in fastbreak points (16.47 per game) and 17th in three-point percentage defense (27.7 percent), leading the MEAC in both statistics.
HOWARD BENCH
Howard University's last game was in D.C. and ended in a loss to Yale 86-78 on Jan. 3. This was the third overtime game that the Bison have competed in so far this season. Senior Marcus Dockery scored 21 points for HU. Last season's MEAC rookie of the year Shy Odom did not compete in the last two games for Howard.
The Bison are top-50 in three-point percentage ranking 48th in the nation and leading the MEAC. Howard is also top-100 in two additional categories nationally ranking 69th in both free throw attempts and free throws made.
NC Central has the head-to-head advantage over Howard, winning 13 games and dropping five. The last time these two teams met was on Feb. 25, 2023, with the Eagles winning 68-60 in Durham.
NORFOLK STATE BENCH
Norfolk State traveled to No. 5 Tennessee on Jan. 2 dropping the contest 87-50. Junior Jamarii Thomas led the Spartans in scoring with 15 points while Tyrel Bladen grabbed six rebounds. NSU will open its conference schedule at South Carolina State on Saturday, Jan. 6 before arriving at McDougald-McLendon Arena for Monday night's matchup.
The Spartans are top-50 in five different statistics nationally including bench points per game (30.06) where they rank 31st. NSU is currently 41st in free throws made per game (16.8), 24th in steals per game (9.4), 32nd in turnover margin (+3.7) and 30th in turnovers forced per game (15.62).
NCCU's record against Norfolk State is 11-9 with the Eagles leading in victories. The last game of the 2022-23 season came in the MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament Seminfinals with NSU defeating NC Central 72-65 in overtime.
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