ATHENS, Ga. – The North Carolina Central men's basketball team opens its season on Monday, Nov. 2, with a road matchup against Georgia. The Eagles will take on the Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. at Stegeman Coliseum, with the game airing live on SEC Network+.
Game 1:
NC Central (0-0) at Georgia (0-0)
Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 – 7:30 p.m.
Stegeman Coliseum – Athens, Ga.
SECN+ | Live Stats | Radio | Tickets
Series History: Monday's matchup marks the third meeting between the Bulldogs and Eagles, with Georgia holding a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series. The teams last met on Nov. 12, 2023, when North Carolina Central put up a strong fight but came up short, 64-54.
Scouting Georgia: UGA was picked to finish 11th in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) preseason poll and did not have a player named to the Preseason All-SEC Teams. North Carolina Central will look to snap the Bulldogs' 36-game home winning streak against nonconference opponents. Georgia's projected starting lineup features Blue Cain, Kareen Stagg, Marcus Millender, Kanon Catchings and James Scott. Four of the five players finished last season as starters. Cain is Georgia's top returning scorer (13.1 ppg) and rebounder (5.1 rpg), while Millender leads the returning group in assists, averaging 4.1 per contest.
Last Season in Review: NC Central finished the 2025-26 season with a 14-18 overall record, including an 8-5 mark at home. The Eagles went 8-6 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play, tying for third place before earning the No. 3 seed in the 2026 MEAC Basketball Tournament through a tiebreaker. NCCU earned one All-MEAC First Team selection and placed two players on the All-Defensive Team. The Eagles also reached the MEAC Tournament Championship game for the first time since 2019, facing No. 1 seed Howard. NCCU ultimately fell to the Bison, marking the first championship game loss in the Division I era.
Defensive Disruption: NCCU was in the top 50 nationally in four different categories last season, mainly for defensive efforts. The Eagles' highest ranking was 13th in turnovers forced per game at an average of 14.88 caused turnovers. Quick hands earned them 23rd in steals per game at an 8.8 average. NC Central used quick offense for a ranking of 34th in fastbreak points (13.94 ppg). Lastly, the Eagles finished the season 39th in turnover margin at +2.7 per game.
Georgia on Their Minds: Two Eagles won't be feeling like visitors in Stegeman Coliseum as they return to their home state of Georgia. Duor Duor, a native of Atlanta, and Chandler Thomas, who hails from Warner Robins, Ga., will both have the opportunity to compete in front of their families. Duor enjoyed a standout high school career at South Atlanta High School, earning Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class AA Region 6 Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors in both his junior and senior seasons. Thomas began his collegiate career at South Georgia State, where he put together an impressive sophomore campaign and earned a spot on the 2026 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) All-Region First Team.
Heightened Expectations: One of the most notable changes for the Eagles this season is their increased size and length. North Carolina Central boasts an average team height of nearly 6-foot-5, including four players standing 6-foot-10 or taller. By comparison, the tallest player on last year's roster stood at 6-foot-9, highlighting the Eagles' significant increase in size heading into the new season.
Eagles vs. the SEC: North Carolina Central holds a 1-10 record against Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponents, with its lone victory coming during the 2016-17 season in a 10-point win over Missouri. The Eagles have also challenged several SEC opponents, pushing Oklahoma to overtime in 2010 and suffering a narrow four-point loss at LSU in 2016.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
