WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the first time this season, the North Carolina Central University men's basketball team will play Howard University on the road at Burr Gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Eagles and Bison are both coming off losses last Monday. The game will be featured on ESPN+ at 4 p.m.
Week 14 – Game 24 | Full Game Notes
North Carolina Central (10-13, 3-3 MEAC)
at Howard (8-14, 3-2 MEAC)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 – 4:00 p.m.
Burr Gymnasium – Washington, D.C.
Live Stats | ESPN+
Series: 48-32, NCCU Leads
NCCU BENCH
NC Central looks to bounce back after a tough road loss at Norfolk State on Monday, Feb. 3. After leading most of the second half, the Eagles fell 81-78 in the final seconds. Junior forward Perry Smith Jr. led all scorers with a new career-high of 24 points and also grabbed nine rebounds.
The Eagles are now 3-3 in conference action. Two of the three losses were only by a two-point margin, while the third was a double overtime.
NCCU leads three statistical team categories in the MEAC. The Eagles are first in steals per game (9.43), turnover margin (+4.26) and three-point percentage defense (29.3 percent). The Maroon & Gray are also top-15 nationally in those same categories as well as eighth in the country in fastbreak points per game (16.48).
The last time the Bison and Eagles squared off was at Burr Gymnasium in mid-February last season. Howard would go on to win the contest 90-82, splitting the series as NCCU opened the conference schedule last year with a 73-54 victory at home.
Heading into this contest, the series between the two programs is 48-32 with NC Central leading.
THE MEAC MINUTE
OPPONENTS: MEAC STATS
HOWARD
Scoring
HU: Blake Harper - 19.3 ppg (1st)
Rebounding
HU: Blake Harper - 6.5 rpg (T-2nd)
Field Goal Percentage
HU: Marcus Dockery - 49.1% (4th)
Assists
HU: Gill Anwar - 4.1 apg (2nd)
Assist-To-Turnover
HU: Blake Harper - 1.8 (4th)
Steals
HU: Joshua Strong - 1.1 spg (T-6th)
Blocked Shots
HU: Ayodele Taiwo - 0.7 bpg (T-6th)
Minutes Played
HU: Blake Harper - 34.6 mpg (2nd)
Div. I National Team Stats - Top 25
Assists Per Game- 17.0 (25th)
3-Point Percentage - 39.2% (10th)
NC CENTRAL
Scoring
NCCU: Po'Boigh King - 16.5 ppg (T-5th)
Rebounding
NCCU: Perry Smith Jr - 5.0 rpg (T-7th)
Field Goal Percentage
NCCU: Po'Boigh King - 44.1% (9th)
Assists
NCCU: Isaac Parson - 4.2 apg (1st)
Assist-To-Turnover
NCCU: Isaac Parson - 2.4 (1st)
Steals
NCCU: Dionte Johnson - 1.5 spg (T-2nd)
Blocked Shots
NCCU: Perry Smith Jr. - 0.6 bpg (T-7th)
Minutes Played
NCCU: Po'Boigh King - 29.8 mpg (T-9th)
Div. I National Team Stats - Top 25
Bench Points Per Game - 31.52 (16th)
Fastbreak Points - 16.48 (8th)
Off Rebounds Per Game - 13.78 (19th)
Steals Per Game - 9.4 (17th)
Three-Point % Defense - 29.3% (17th)
Turnover Margin - 4.3 (13th)
Turnovers Forced Per Game-17.04 (3rd)
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