North Carolina A&T (16-14, 12-3 MEAC) vs. N.C. Central (16-13, 12-3 MEAC)
Date: March 5, 2020
Time: 7 p.m.
Facility: McDougald-McLendon Arena
Series: A&T leads, 82-74
GAME NOTES
 
PROBABLE STARTERS:  G Andre Jackson (6-4, 175, Sr., 9.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg); G Kameron Langley (6-2, 205, Jr., 9.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg); G Kwe Parker (6-2, 181, R-Jr., 7.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg); F Ronald Jackson (6-8, 205, Sr., 14.9 ppg, 10.2 rpg); C Devin Haygood (6-8, 180, R-Sr., 7.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg).
 
AGGIES OVERVIEW: It all comes down to this. The Aggies are tied with N.C. Central for first place in the MEAC at 12-3 meaning the winner of this game not only earns bragging rights in the rivalry but they get the outright regular-season championship. The Aggies haven't accomplished an outright regular-season title since 1987-88. They shared the title in 1991-92 with Howard. Junior guard Kameron Langley, a preseason second team all-MEAC selection, broke the Aggies' all-time assist record earlier this season and now has a career total of 605. The junior also broke the school's single-season assist record held by himself (208) and now has 220. Langley leads the conference and is third in the nation in assists per game at 7.6 and is second in assist-to-turnover ratio. The Aggies are led by senior forward Ronald Jackson who leads the team in points (14.9) and rebounds per game (10.2). Acting head coach Will Jones is 13-4 since taking over the team in late December.
 
EAGLES OVERVIEW: The Eagles are coming off a 71-68 win in an overtime thriller against Bethune-Cookman. NCCU was picked to win the conference in the MEAC preseason poll after winning the conference tournament last year, their third in a row. They are led by redshirt senior forward Jibri Blount who averages a league-high 19.3 points while ranking third in rebounding at 9.3 rebounds. In the first game against the Aggies, Blount was held to just eight points on 3-11 shooting. Head coach LeVelle Moton is in his 11^th year at the helm of the program and has an overall record of 206-148 (.582).
 
News & Notes:

• Last time these two teams met, N.C. A&T defeated the Eagles, 77-60, on Feb. 17.
• The Aggies and Eagles are both riding four-game winning streaks.
• In conference games only, the Aggies are first in eight statistical categories (scoring offense, three-point field goal percentage defense, rebounding offense, assists, steals, turnover margin, assist-to-turnover ratio, and defensive rebounds).
• In MEAC games, Aggie forward Ronald Jackson is second in the league in rebounding (12.0 per game) through 15 games. He also has 14 double-doubles this season, tied for 22^nd in the country.
• Langley has 605 career assists. He sits third all-time in the MEAC and needs 18 dimes to become the conference's all-time assist leader.
• Langley is tied for second in the country in total assists (220) and third in assists per game (7.6).