ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. -- The ECSU men and women's basketball teams will compete in their respective home openers on Saturday, November 29th, at the newly renovated R.L. Vaughan Center on the campus of Elizabeth City State University. The Lady Vikings will take on Converse College at 2 pm, followed by the men's team hosting Johnson C. Smith at 4 pm. 

Phase 1 of R.L. Vaughan Center Renovations
Tomorrow's doubleheader marks the long-awaited return of basketball to the newly renovated R.L. Vaughan Center, where Elizabeth City State will play its first home game inside a transformed arena. The project brought sweeping upgrades, including new motorized retractable seating on both the floor and mezzanine levels to raise capacity to more than 2,500 fans. A new ADA-compliant ramp provides direct access to the raised gym floor, while a brand-new multipurpose wood court, enhanced lighting system, and modern scoreboard elevate the game-day experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Men's Preview
The ECSU men enter the home opener looking to steady themselves after a demanding season-opening road stretch. The Vikings began the year with a trip to perrenial DII powerhouse Lincoln Memorial before returning to North Carolina for a neutral-site matchup against Davis & Elkins on November 22, where they showed improved balance despite an 83–68 setback. Most recently, the Vikings traveled to Charleston on November 25, competing well early before falling 87–69 to a strong Golden Eagles squad. 

That group is led by Jaquantae Harris and Trevor Smith, who have powered much of the Vikings' offense through the first three games. Harris enters averaging 13.7 points, shooting 46% from the field and a standout 93% at the line, while also providing defensive energy with 2.0 steals per game. Smith adds 13.0 points per outing, highlighted by seven made threes on nearly 39% shooting from deep, and does a bit of everything with 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals in a team-high 30 minutes per game. Together, the duo anchors a Vikings unit eager to deliver a statement performance in its first contest of the season in front of the home crowd. 

Standing in the way is a well-rounded Johnson C. Smith team that comes in at 2–2 and has shown both scoring punch and lineup balance. The Golden Bulls opened with a competitive road loss at Allen University before sweeping the JCSU Tip-Off Classic, powering past Virginia University of Lynchburg and Morris College in back-to-back outings. They most recently fell 96–72 at Lenoir-Rhyne on November 25, but their early-season form has revealed multiple scoring threats capable of heating up quickly.

JCSU is led by the versatility of Jamauri Bryant, who averages 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 3.0 steals while shooting nearly 56% from the field. Trey Pettigrew provides an additional 17.0 points per game and has been lethal from beyond the arc, hitting 66.7% of his three-point attempts. Jared Davis adds another efficient scoring option at 14.7 points on a remarkable 73% shooting clip, while Anthony Williams chips in 12.0 points and offers perimeter spacing with his 66.7% accuracy from deep. With four double-figure scorers and strong shooting percentages across the board, the Golden Bulls bring a confident and dangerous offense into Elizabeth City.

Women's Preview
The Lady Vikings enter its upcoming matchup with Converse seeking to turn early-season lessons into positive momentum. The Vikings opened the year with three games in four days, a demanding stretch that provided a quick introduction to the pace and physicality of the new season. Losses to Indiana (Pa.) and West Virginia State in Petersburg were followed by the CIAA opener at Chowan, where ECSU delivered its most competitive outing so far before falling 72–56. Though the record shows an 0–3 start, the Vikings used the opening week to test rotations, identify emerging scorers, and establish their defensive identity.

Offensively, ECSU has leaned on a group of early producers who have carried much of the scoring load. Tionna Pettus leads the Vikings at 11.7 points per game, operating with efficiency around the basket and attacking the offensive glass for second-chance opportunities. Jada Clark, nearly matching her production at 11.3 points, has been the most consistent perimeter option, shooting above 50 percent from the floor and providing stability at the free-throw line. Sophomore guard Kailyn Young has offered an additional scoring spark in her two appearances, while Alexis Staton continues to anchor the wing with her versatility, minutes, and disruptive defense. 

Across the court, Converse arrives in a similar position record-wise, but their trajectory reveals a team tested by a challenging opening schedule. The Valkyries dropped their first five contests, beginning with a narrow 66–61 loss to Middle Georgia State before running into nationally respected programs such as Lincoln Memorial and Winston-Salem State. Their most encouraging performance came in an 81–72 battle at Emmanuel, where they maintained pace throughout and showcased a more cohesive offensive attack. Still, inconsistent defensive rotations and extended scoring droughts have created separation late in games, including in their recent 76–42 loss to Claflin.

The Valkyries' offense is driven almost entirely by their top two performers: Tatiana Brown and Andrea Gutierrez Ciordia, who combine for more than 25 points per game. Brown provides interior strength, shooting over 53 percent and leading the team with 8.2 rebounds per game, while Gutierrez Ciordia handles the bulk of the playmaking and perimeter creation. She logs nearly 36 minutes per night, serving as Converse's primary facilitator and shot-taker. Limiting touches and controlling the tempo against these two will be central to the Vikings' defensive plan.

For ECSU, the matchup presents an opportunity to take another step forward—both in execution and confidence. The Vikings have shown flashes of cohesion on both ends but are still searching for extended stretches of consistency, especially in transition defense and offensive flow. If Pettus and Clark continue their early-season efficiency and Staton's two-way presence remains steady, ECSU should have the balance to challenge Converse's top-heavy attack. With both teams hungry for their first win, Saturday's contest offers a chance to reset trajectories and build momentum before entering the heart of conference play. The question now: which team will seize that opportunity first? 

Up Next for ECSU
The Vikings return home as the women host UNC Pembroke on Monday, Dec. 1 at the R.L. Vaughan Center, followed by the men welcoming Fayetteville State on Thursday, Dec. 4.