SALISBURY, N.C. – The Elizabeth City State University basketball teams continue their extensive Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association road swing through Salisbury and Charlotte this weekend as they will take on Livingstone College and Johnson C. Smith University on Thursday and Saturday.
 
The women's team comes into the Livingstone tilt having won three straight, including a come-from-behind 12-point win at Saint Augustine's University on Monday afternoon. The Vikings come in with a record of 10-5 and 3-2 in conference play and have split common opponent contests with Livingstone. ECSU is paced by junior Naterria Luster who is averaging 18.5 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per contest.
 
The men's team comes into the weekend series having won six straight, including an 82-78 win at Fayetteville State on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings have been led by a balanced scoring attack including four players averaging in double figures, yet no one over 13.5 points per game. ECSU has been buoyed by the return of preseason CIAA selection Zaccheus Hobbs who has returned from injury. Justin Faison, John Maynor and Shyheid Petteway also average in double figures for the Viking offensive attack.
 
SCOUTING LIVINGSTONE AND JOHNSON C. SMITH WOMEN
 
Livingstone comes into the contest with a 3-10 record overall and a 0-3 record in conference play. They have however lost their last seven games, with their last win coming against common opponent Puerto Rico Bayamon. The losing streak can be contributed to a lack of defense as Livingstone has been giving up eight more points a game than they have been scoring over the past seven contests. For the Blue Bears they are being led by junior Daisa Harris who is pouring in 20.8 points per game on 38 percent shooting from the field.
 
Johnson C. Smith has seen its struggles on the court as well as the Golden Bulls are 4-9 on the season and a 1-2 record in CIAA play. JCSU has struggled mightly from the offensive side of the ball scoring only 60 points per game, while giving up 65 points per game. The Golden Bulls have no scorers averaging double figures, however the offensive attack is being led by Malia Rivers who is averaging 9.2 points per game.
 
SCOUTING LIVINGSTONE AND JOHNSON C. SMITH MEN
 
The Blue Bears come into the contest on Thursday night sporting a 6-5 record overall and a 0-3 mark in CIAA play. Livingstone has been led offensively by Roger Ray who is scoring at a 17 point per game clip while shooting 40 percent from the field and a blistering 87 percent from the free throw line. Lydell Elmore and Malik Smith both average in double figures for Livingstone at 12.1 points and 10.3 points per contest.
 
Johnson C. Smith has struggled throughout the 2018-19 campaign with a 2-7 record overall and a 0-3 mark in conference play. The Golden Bulls have dropped their last four contests. They are currently being led by Cayse Minor who is scoring at a 14.9 points per game clip on 51 percent shooting from the field. Roddric Ross also averages in double figures at a 14.1 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at 5.3 rebounds per contest.