Men's Basketball | January 04, 2019

Game Notes | Ryan: Seven Things We Learned About @BCUhoops and @BCU WBB In Non-Conference Play

DURHAM, N.C. - Bethune-Cookman University men's basketball returns to the hardwood to play North Carolina Central on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 4 p.m. The action can be heard on WELE 1380 The CAT with Nolan Alexander on the call. Live stats and video links are available on www.bcuathletics.com. 

Starting Five

1 Bethune-Cookman begins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play with a road game at North Carolina Central. The matchup pits the defending MEAC Tournament champions, the Eagles, against the preseason favorites, the Wildcats

2 In last season's meeting, BCU raced out to a 55-31 halftime lead and saw four Wildcats score in double-figures. Returners Shawntrez Davis and Soufi Diakite scored 18 and 16, respectfully, while each pulled down seven rebounds. Davis had a game-high four blocks

3 BCU begins a three-game road stretch to open MEAC action, and is in the midst of five-straight and eight of nine away from Moore Gym. The Wild- cats will total 17,926 miles this season that has included trips from California to Boston

4 Cletrell Pope enters January all over thr MEAC leaderboard. He is second in the conference with 23 blocks and 1.64 per-game Pope paces the MEAC with his 154 total boards, 7.07 defensive rebound average, 3.93 offensive rebounds, 11.0 rebounding average, and seven double-doubles

5 The 'Cats lead the MEAC in defensive rebounding average (27.71), rebounding average (40.2), and 3pt defense (30.9%). BCU is second in rebound margin (+2.3), offensive boards (13.1), & FG defense (42.0%)

Previously

Four players scored in double-figures as Bethune-Cookman picked up a huge road victory, 74-66, against Boston University Friday night at "The Roof". The Wildcats snapped a five-game skid to improve to 5-9, while the Terriers fell to 7-6 in BCU's first road win of the campaign.
 
Malik Maitland and Dondre Duffus each scored 14 points and the duo combined for 17 made free throws. Shawntrez Davis netted 13 with a pair of treys, and Houston Smith set a season-best with 13 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Wildcats shot 51% from the floor, including a 14-25 showing in the second half, and buried eight of 12 tree-pointers to avenge a close loss at home in 2017.

Last Time vs. NCCU (2/12/18): 

Brandon Tabb scored 25 points and was one of four Wildcats in double-figures as Bethune-Cookman stomped North Carolina Central, 99-81, Monday evening at Historic Moore Gymnasium. BCU (14-12, 8-3) shot 51.5% from the field (35-61) and snapped a two-game losing streak in the series to NCCU (12-13, 6-5), and ended a four-game home stand with three wins.

The visitors from Durham, N.C., grabbed an early two-point lead with the first of Raasean Davis' 26 points, but BCU did not wait long to answer en route to a 55-31 lead at halftime. Under first year Head Coach Ryan Ridder, BCU shot 63% in the half and was 7-12 from three.

The lead eventually swelled to an 89-60 advantage with 6:47 remaining in the game, and BCU led for 37:02 of the game.

Coming Soon

BCU continues its road trip next week at Howard (Jan. 12) and Norfolk State (Jan. 14).

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