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| Jeremy Ingram leads NCCU with 23 points per game. (Herald-Sun photo) |
After an opening-night loss at Cinncinati, North Carolina Central went on a run that any HBCU and most mid-majors could dream of. NCCU (6-2) won six straight, including wins over NC State, Old Dominion and Appalachian State. The Eagles were brought back to earth in a 71-65 loss.
NCCU will face a Winthrop team with an identical record, which boast wins against Appalachian State and James Madison. Its only two losses were against no. 14 VCU and the ACC’s Virginia Tech. NCCU won last season’s matchup 64-57.
NCCU will have its hands full against forward Joab Jerome (13.6 ppg) as well as guards Andre Smith and Keon Johnson. NCCU should have an advantage on the rebounding end as Winthrop is out-rebounded by an average of four per game, while NCCU out-rebounds its opponents by seven per game.