North Carolina Central Preview

BG returns home to the Stroh to take on North Carolina Central, a team that played in the Big Dance last year out of the MEAC.

Here's some facts.

First, NCCS is a HBCU in Durham, NC.  Prominent graduates include:

Herman Boone, portrayed in Remember the Titans
Mike Easley, former Governor of NC
Ivan Dixon, Hogan's Heroes
Harold Hunter, first AA to sign an NBA Contract
Maynard Jackson, Mayor of Atlanta
Sam Jones, NBA HOF

They Finished 6th last year in the regular season and the won the tournament.  Played in first four, lost to Texas Southern

This is a successful program. They've won 20 games in 3 of the last 5 years.  Former DII National Champions.  As mentioned, they play in the MEAC, which is the 31st ranked conference out of 32

They are picked 2nd this year in the MEAC by Blue Ribbon.

It is the first meeting between the Eagles and the Falcons.  BG did play Norfolk State and Morgan State from the MEAC last year.

The Eagles are 0-2 this year, however, they lost to Clemson and Cincinnati by 20 and 18 points respectively.  Both those teams are ranked, so this game will be significantly different for them.

The Eagles are led by 6'9" Raasean Davis, who is pre-season all-MEAC. He scored 15.7 last year with 8.1 rebounds and was 3rd in the NCAA in FG% (67%).  Their leading scorer this year is Randy Miller, a transfer that started at Mt. St. Mary.  He's 6'3" and scoring 15 PPG on 43% and 46% shooting.

6'8" Zacarry Douglas is improving scoring 9.5 PPG and 8.5 RPG.  Guards Reggie Gardner and Jordan Perkins were third-team All-MEAC preseason.

As a team, they are shooting 34% for the year, but again, they've been playing tough competition.

This is one BG just needs to win and hopefully win comfortably.  They're coming off a pretty one-sided loss at VCU on Monday and this is a part of the schedule where they need to get some W's.