March 13, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE GAME: North Carolina Central University reunites with long-time rival Winston-Salem State University in a "Bonus Game" during Championship Saturday of the 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Basketball Tournament inside the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. ... NCCU has not played since Saturday, Feb. 23... This is the Eagles' 23rd road game of the season... NCCU is playing in its inaugural season as an NCAA Division I program... NCCU has submitted an application to become a member of the MEAC.

THE SERIES: This will be the 133rd meeting between NCCU and WSSU since the two rivals first met on Feb. 5, 1938... The Rams lead the series 72-60... WSSU has out-scored the Eagles 9,424 (71.4 avg.) to 9,119 (69.1 avg.) in the previous 132 contests... WSSU won the last meeting 59-51 on Feb. 21, 2006... NCCU's last victory over the Rams was a 65-55 decision on Feb. 4, 2006.

UP NEXT: Rest. The Eagles have traveled more than 22,000 miles, played 23 road games in 13 different states, and competed against one of the toughest schedules in the country. Win or lose, NCCU's inaugural Division I season will be history.

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 42-71 record at NCCU and a 114-144 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. Dickerson is 1-3 against WSSU during his NCCU tenure.

FUTRELL, AYALA EARN DIVISION I ALL-INDEPENDENT HONORS: NCCU senior forward Charles Futrell (Fayetteville, N.C.) has been named to the 2007-08 Division I Men's Basketball All-Independent Team, as voted upon by Division I independent head coaches and sports information directors. Futrell currently leads the Eagles in scoring (16.3 ppg), rebounding (7.3 rpg), blocked shots (0.9 bpg), steals (1.7 spg), field goal percentage (.479), free throw percentage (.713), and is one of the nation's leaders in minutes played (37.0 avg.). He received All-Independent Second Team recognition. Among Division I independent leaders, Futrell ranks fourth in scoring, third in rebounding, fifth in blocked shots and sixth in steals. During NCCU's first year of Division I and playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation, Futrell scored a career-high 34 points at Norfolk State (Jan. 7) and recorded 17 points and 6 rebounds at Duke (Nov. 9); 17 points, 6 rebounds and 6 steals at Rutgers (Nov. 12); 15 points and 13 rebounds at UNC Wilmington (Dec. 16); 23 points and 10 rebounds at East Carolina (Jan. 5); 28 points and 10 rebounds versus Coppin State (Jan. 16); and 20 points and 9 rebounds at Towson (Nov. 27). He was also voted to the Drake University Invitational All-Tournament Team and the NCCU BC Powder Classic All-Tournament Team. NCCU junior guard Bryan Ayala received Division I All-Independent Honorable Mention recognition after leading the team in assists (115), three-point field goals made (43) and free throws made (102). Among Division I independent leaders, Ayala ranks 10th in scoring (13.2 ppg), third in assists (4.0 apg), and seventh in steals (1.6 spg). Ayala's season highlights include 26 points and 3 steals at Creighton (Dec. 20); 23 points and four assists at Univ. of Florida (Nov. 14); 26 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals at Norfolk State (Jan. 7); 18 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals at Duke (Nov. 19); 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists at Western Carolina (Dec. 5); 21 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds at Coppin State (Jan. 30); and 19 points and 3 rebounds at Rutgers (Nov. 12). In just three seasons, Ayala currently ranks fourth on the school's career assists list with 291, and fourth on the school's career steals list with 147.

HOLLOWAY NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-INDEPENDENT TEAM: NCCU sophomore forward Tremain Holloway (Rocky Mount, N.C.) has been named to the 2007-08 Division I Academic All-Independent Men's Basketball Team. Holloway boasts a 3.38 grade point average as a Mathematics major at NCCU. During NCCU's inaugural season as a Division I program, Holloway has appeared in all but one game, including nine as a starter. He is averaging 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest. In his best outing of the season, Holloway collected nine points and 11 rebounds against Concord University during the BC Powder Classic on Dec. 30. He also recorded eight points and six boards at Creighton University on Dec. 20.

NCCU: A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE MEAC: NCCU was a founding member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and competed in the league from its beginning in 1971 until 1979. The following text is from the History section of the MEAC web site: "In 1969, a group of innovators long associated with intercollegiate athletics met in Durham, NC to discuss the feasibility of organizing a new conference based along the Atlantic coastline. A number of representatives from different institutions joined the steering committee in a two-day discussion about the new conference. Seven of these institutions agreed to become the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference: Delaware State College, Howard University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University. The MEAC headquarters remained in Durham, N.C. until 1981, moving to Greensboro March 26, 1982. In August 2005, the MEAC relocated to its current location in Virginia Beach, Va. The league was confirmed in 1970, kicking off its first season of competition in Football in 1971."

RECORDS WATCH: AYALA CLIMBING NCCU CAREER RANKS: NCCU junior guard Bryan Ayala continues to climb up the ranks as one of the school's all-time career leaders in steals and assists. Ayala currently ranks fourth in career steals with 147 and fourth in career assists with 291. On Feb. 19, Ayala distributed six assists to pass current NCCU assistant coach LeVelle Moton (278 assists from 1992-96) for the fifth spot. On Feb. 23, Ayala recorded five helpers at Colgate to pass Jeffrey Hayes (288 assists from 1985-87, 1988-90) into fourth on the list. (see page 6 of game notes for complete lists)

FUTRELL A WORKHORSE FOR NCCU: NCCU senior forward Charles Futrell has played every minute in 12 games this season, including six of the last 10 outings. The senior workhorse is among the nation's leaders with an average of 37.0 minutes played per 40-minute game.

NCCU OUT-SCORING OPPONENTS IN SECOND HALF: In each of NCCU's last four games, the Eagles have out-scored their opposition in the second half. (see chart below) The trend began during a win against Chowan (36-30 in second half) and continued with Utah Valley (45-38), Lenoir-Rhyne (44-41) and Colgate (34-27). During that four-game stretch, the Eagles have shot 51.9 percent (54-for-104) from the field in the second stanza, and have held opponents to an average of 34.0 points over the final 20 minutes of play.

A FOND FAIRWELL FOR FUTRELL: Saturday will be the final basketball game in the college career of NCCU senior Charles Futrell. In just two seasons with the Eagles (2005-06, 2007-08), Futrell has amassed 703 points (13.5 ppg), 359 rebounds (6.9 rpg), 60 steals, 38 blocked shots and 34 assists in 52 career games, including the last 51 as a starter.