Preview: North Carolina A&T looks to extend perfect play in MEAC against Howard

Today, North Carolina A&T (NCAT) will be on the road to face Howard with a chance to go 11-0 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play.

The Aggies are coming off of a 70-58 win over second-place Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). NCAT played relatively well and received a big game from Cinia McCray, who ended the game with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

Today’s game will be the first time that Howard and NCAT will face off this season.

Howard comes into today’s game with a 13-10 record and a sixth-place 6-4 conference record after a 76-63 loss to Bethune-Cookman. In Monday’s loss, junior guard Ayonna Williams finished the game with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists while shooting 53 percent from the floor.

Both teams find themselves with 13-10 overall records and a chance to win the MEAC Tournament coming up in March. However, the Aggies have been steamrolling through conference play with a 10-0 record.

Despite the fact that NCAT has a perfect record in conference play, today’s game has major implications for the MEAC standings, and a loss for NCAT could result in UMES being a game behind first place.

This year’s Howard team is in the middle of the pack when it comes to conference play, with three of their six wins coming against teams under .500.

In order for the Bison to win, they are going to need a huge game from their backcourt trio in Sarah Edmond, Jayla Thornton and Ayonna Williams. The three guards average a combined 39.7 points per game.

On the other hand, the Aggies featured backcourt, which includes C’coriea Foy and Cinia McCray, averages a combined 25.4 points per contest.

Both teams are strong on the defensive end when locked in and average more than seven steals a game. Currently, NCAT is the team to beat in the MEAC as they have defeated teams by spacing the floor, forcing turnovers and running an efficient offense.

In conference play on the road, the Aggies are 6-0, which is a good sign as they head to the nation’s capital. After today’s game, both teams will have five conference games remaining on their schedules.

Game information

North Carolina A&T Aggies (13-10, 10-0) at Howard Bison (13-10, 6-4)

When: Saturday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. ET

Where: Burr Gymnasium, Washington, DC

How to watch: Bison Live