Dec. 28, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE BC POWDER CLASSIC: On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 29-30, North Carolina Central University hosts the BC Powder Classic with visiting teams from Elizabeth City State University, Houston Baptist University and Concord University... This is the third consecutive year BC Powder has sponsored a men's basketball event at NCCU... The Eagles have won four straight home games dating back to Feb. 2007.

THE CLASSIC SCHEDULE:

Saturday, December 29, 2007

5:00 p.m. - Elizabeth City State vs. Concord

7:00 p.m. - Houston Baptist vs. North Carolina Central

Sunday, December 30, 2007

5:00 p.m. - Elizabeth City State vs. Houston Baptist

7:00 p.m. - Concord vs. North Carolina Central

THE SERIES: This will be the first time the Eagles of North Carolina Central University has faced either Houston Baptist University or Concord University.

UP NEXT: NCCU hits the road again to face Western Michigan University on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. ... This will be the Eagles' 16th road game of the season... Michigan will be the 10th different state (North Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, North Dakota, Maryland, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Nebraska, Michigan) the Eagles have played in since their first road game on Nov. 12.

ABOUT HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY:

Location: Houston, Texas

Enrollment: 2,339

Nickname: Huskies

Conference: Independent

National Affiliation: NCAA Division I (Reclassification, 1st year from NAIA)

Head Coach: Ron Cottrell (Arkansas, 1988)

Record at HBU: 363-181 (17th season)

Career Record: same

Top Student-Athletes: Gordon Watt, Jr., F, 6-6, 225, Evanston, Illinois (16.0 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game); Baron Sauls, Jr., G, 6-2, 180, Houston, Texas (15.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg).

2007-08 Record: 2-13

ABOUT CONCORD UNIVERSITY:

Location: Athens, West Virginia

Enrollment: 2,735

Nickname: Lions

Conference: West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

National Affiliation: NCAA Division II

Head Coach: Steve Cox

Top Student-Athletes: Danny Parker, Sr., F, 6-4, 270, South Bend, Indiana (16.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg); Cordale Boyd, Jr., G, 6-2, 170, Cincinnati, Ohio (15.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg).

2007-08 Record: 4-2

ABOUT ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY:

Location: Elizabeth City, NC

Enrollment: 3,025

Nickname: Vikings

Conference: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

National Affiliation: NCAA Division II

Head Coach: Shawn Walker (Elizabeth City State, 1994)

Record at ECSU: 78-101 (6th season)

Career Record: 148-149 (10th season)

Top Student-Athletes: Antothy Hillard, Jr., G/F, 6-4, 205, Fayetteville, N.C. (16.3 ppg, 11.1 rpg); Olajuwon Johnson, Sr., G, 6-3, 180, Richmond, Va. (14.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg).

2007-08 Record: 4-3

A GOOD START FOR THE EAGLES: NCCU has controlled the opening tip in four consecutive games. NCCU 6-6 senior forward Charles Futrell has won jump balls against UNC Wilmington, Western Kentucky, Creighton and Nebraska. Futrell's most recent center circle victory at Nebraska was against 6-11, 275-pound senior center Aleks Maric.

AYALA FOR THREE... THE STREAK CONTINUES: NCCU junior guard Bryan Ayala has made a three-point field goal in all but one contest this season (at North Dakota State, Nov. 17), including 12 games in-a-row. He is currently shooting 25-of-81 from long range, a 30.9 percent success rate.