Jan. 4, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE GAME: North Carolina Central University travels to Greenville, N.C. to play East Carolina University on Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. ... This will be the Eagles' 17th road game of the season.

THE SERIES: This will be the second regular-season meeting between the Eagles of North Carolina Central University and the Pirates of East Carolina University. In NCCU's only regular-season game against Division I opposition last season, the Eagles were within two points of East Carolina early in the second half, but the Pirates eventually sailed to a 68-47 victory.

UP NEXT: NCCU will play in its 11th state this season (North Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, North Dakota, Maryland, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Nebraska, Michigan, Virginia) when the Eagles travel to Norfolk, Va. to face the Spartans of Norfolk State University on Monday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. ... This will be the Eagles' 18th road game of the season... Like NCCU, Norfolk State was once a member of the CIAA before transitioning to Division I.

THE EAGLES' COACH: Henry Dickerson (Morris Harvey, 1973) is in his fourth season as head coach at North Carolina Central and enters the contest with a 40-63 record at NCCU and a 112-136 career record. Dickerson arrived at N.C. Central in 2004-05 after a five-year stint as head coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he was 72-73 and won two Southern Conference divisional titles from 1997-2002. He also served as associate head coach at Chattanooga from 1989-97, and held assistant coaching positions at Marshall from 1983-89 and Charleston from 1979-83.

FRIENDLY FOES: Saturday's clashing head coaches are no strangers to one another. NCCU head coach Henry Dickerson and East Carolina head coach Mack McCarthy sat on the same bench from 1989-97 at Tennessee-Chattanooga. McCarthy, who was the Mocs head coach from 1985-97, hired Dickerson as his associate head coach. The two enjoyed a trip to the NCAA "Sweet 16" in 1997 before McCarthy accepted the associate head coach position at Virginia Commonwealth and Dickerson was elevated to head coach at UTC.

OPENING TIP STREAK ENDS: NCCU had controlled the opening tip in five consecutive games, but the streak ended on Sunday (Dec. 30) against Concord University. NCCU 6-6 senior forward Charles Futrell had won jump balls against UNC Wilmington, Western Kentucky, Creighton, Nebraska and Houston Baptist. Futrell won the opening tap at Western Michigan on Wednesday (Jan. 2) ... has another streak started?

AYALA FOR THREE... THE STREAK CONTINUES: NCCU junior guard Bryan Ayala has made a three-point fi eld goal in all but one contest this season (at North Dakota State, Nov. 17), including 15 games in-a-row. The streak nearly ended on Sunday (Dec. 30) when Ayala, who was suffering from a stomach virus, played only 17 minutes and his only field goal was a three-pointer with less than a minute remaining against Concord University. He is currently shooting 28-of-97 from long range, a 28.9 percent success rate.

GAME COVERAGE: Listen to the NCCU vs. ECU game on WRJD 1410 AM or on-line at NCCUEaglePride.com. The contest will also be televised throughout North Carolina on Time Warner Cable (check local listings).

Charlotte Division

Channel 7 - Albemarle, Kannapolis, Salisbury

Channel 9 - Charlotte, Shelby

Channel 15 - Rockingham

Channel 17 - Gastonia, Monroe

Channel 19 - Statesville

Greensboro Division

Channel 69 - Greensboro, High Point, Archdale, Asheboro

Channel 70 - Thomasville, Lexington

Channel 75 - Forsyth, Dobson, King, Mt. Airy, Mocksville

Eastern Carolina Division

Channel 24 - Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Goldsboro, Wilson

Channel 60 - Fayetteville, Southern Pines, Lumberton, Pinehurst

Channel 19 - Wilmington, Burgaw, Elizabethtown, Whiteville, Southport

Channel 25 - Newport, Morehead City, Havelock, Jacksonville, Swansboro