jjohnson@heraldsun.com; 419-6667
DURHAM -- N.C. Central doesn't need a scouting report to get ready to play N.C. State today at the RBC Center, according to Eagles coach LeVelle Moton.
"The guys have played against each other so many other times that there's a familiarity," Moton said. "But it's one thing to play at the [YMCA] or in a summer league game with a thousand people in the stands and another to play in front of 20,000 with the bright lights on."
Both teams head into the game hoping to stop losing skids. The Eagles (4-18) have lost three in a row, while N.C. State (13-8) has dropped two straight since upsetting Duke on Jan. 20.
To avoid travel delays caused by the snowstorm that has blanketed the area, the Eagles traveled to Raleigh on Friday for an overnight stay.
NCCU has just one other road game after today's 2 p.m. contest, which will be followed by five straight at McDougald-McLendon Gym.
Moton said the proximity of the game against the Wolfpack should help bring in some NCCU supporters even if there is bad weather.
"I hope the weather doesn't affect the fans getting out too much," Moton said. "Eagles fans are known for supporting their team."
The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Moton, who grew up in Raleigh and played at Enloe High School. It will be the first time he's returned as a college head coach.
And Moton will be going up against a childhood idol in N.C. State's Sidney Lowe, who was the point guard of the 1983 national championship team for the Wolfpack. Their friendship has blossomed since Moton got into coaching, but he recounted his memories of Lowe, Derek Whittenburg and Thurl Bailey spending time at the Raleigh Boys' Club and the national championship poster he received as youngster before turning his attention to today's game.
"We're definitely facing a challenge" Moton said. "They're a very tricky team. They can beat you from the outside, and on the inside, they have an animal in Tracy Smith.
"We're going to have our hands full, but we've faced it before [when] playing other ACC schools. I think we're battle-tested. I don't think it matters anymore, because we'll find a way to get comfortable in the game."
Moton said he would like to duplicate the start the Eagles had a year ago against N.C. State, only sustain it even longer. NCCU jumped out to a 13-5 start against the Wolfpack and forced them to take a timeout. Unfortunately for the Eagles, nothing much else went right in that game and N.C. State prevailed 87-59.
Despite the Eagles' record, Moton said he's proud of the way his team has competed this season.
"We feel like there has been progress, but unfortunately it's not been showing itself with wins," Moton said. "We're having to go through it by trial and error. The reality is that we're not going to the Final Four, but there are things we're doing that are making us better."
