RADFORD, Va. – The Radford men's basketball team welcomes N.C. Central to the New River Valley on Thursday night for the first home game against a Division I foe this season.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: North Carolina Central Eagles (4-3, 0-0 MEAC)
Date/Time: Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:00 p.m. 
Location: Carilion Clinic Court at the Dedmon Center (Radford, Va.)

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SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's game will mark the first-ever meeting between the Radford and N.C. Central men's basketball teams.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
With program legend and 14^th-year head coach LaVelle Moton at the helm, N.C. Central continues to be one of the top mid-major programs in the region and a contender to make the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Eagles were picked to finish second on the MEAC Preseason Poll while garnering one first-place vote and are off to a 4-3 start to the season. They kicked off the year by hanging tough in a 73-61 loss to the now #3 ranked Virginia Cavaliers and have since earned wins over Mid-Atlantic Christian, Montreat, and fellow Big South school Gardner-Webb.
 
A First Team All-MEAC selection a year ago, Justin Wright has lived up to the hype once again. The junior guard is averaging a team-high 17.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and an incredible 63.2% from three. Eric Boone (11.1 ppg) and Brendan Medley-Bacon (9.4 ppg) are standouts to look for as well.
 
SECOND HALF STUDS
It's clear that the Highlanders have a penchant for second half theatrics, evidenced most clearly by a come-from-behind victory against Army after trailing by 10 at halftime. Radford has out-scored opponents by 35 (256-221) in the first half of games this season, but it out-scored those same opponents by 68 (275-207) during second halves.
 
CALLING CARD: DEFENSE
While Head Coach Darris Nichols' fast-paced offensive scheme gets plenty of headlines, it has been Radford's defense that has proved to be its calling card so far this season. Through seven games, the Highlanders lead the Big South and rank top-50 in the nation in scoring defense with just 61.1 points allowed per game. 

FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
To follow the Radford men's basketball team throughout the season, visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordHoops on Twitter, 'radfordhoops' Instagram or Radford Men's Basketball on Facebook.