Ben Ebong

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	Ben Ebong	42
	Year: Senior Position: Forward Height: 6-7 Weight: 228 Hometown: Omaha, Neb. High School: Omaha Burke Birth Date: January 20, 1976 Birthplace: Port Harcourt, Nigeria Parents: Ben and Regina Major: Political Science Career Collegiate Statistics
Career Highs
Minutes: 37 at Navy, 11/23/98 FG: 8 at East Tennessee State, 1/9/99 FGA: 18 at Navy, 11/23/98 3FG: 2 vs. Bowdoin, 12/12/98 3FGA: 3 vs. Bowdoin, 12/12/98 FT: 8 vs. Appalachian State, 1/2/99 FTA: 10 most recently vs. Appalachian State, 1/2/99 Off reb: 11 at Western Carolina, 1/2/98 Def reb: 8 at UNC Greensboro, 2/7/98 Rebounds: 16 at Western Carolina, 1/2/98 Assists: 5 most recently vs. The Citadel, 1/18/99 Steals: 4 vs. Navy, 11/23/98 TO: 7 at VMI, 1/4/99 Blocks: 2 most recently at Wofford, 2/16/99 Points: 20 at Navy, 11/23/98

1998-99 Outlook: 1998-99 Outlook: A fifth-year senior and one of three captains on this year's Wildcats, Ebong is an athletic, powerful presence in Davidson's frontcourt as well as one of its finest defenders. After a summer in which he was a counselor at Five-Star Camp in Pittsburgh and Michael Jordan's camp in Elmhurst, Ill., and played with NBA stars such as Shaquille O'Neal, Maurice Taylor, Jalen Rose, and Howard Eisley while in Detroit, Ebong should challenge for preseason and postseason all-conference laurels.

1997-98: In his first full season at Davidson, Ebong was the best sixth man in the Southern Conference and perhaps the league's most dominant player overall down the stretch, collecting the conference tourney MVP and making the all-tournament team. After slowly adjusting to game action in the first half of the season, Ebong averaged 12.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per outing in the 10 games heading into the NCAA tournament. In what was then by far his best showing as a Wildcat, he recorded 12 points and 16 boards -- 11 of them on the offensive glass -- Jan. 2 at Western Carolina for his first career double-double and the first of three last year. He sparkled in a must-win situation Jan. 17 at Furman, logging a career-high 17 points. He added 16 points and seven rebounds in an overtime victory Feb. 4 against Chattanooga. Against Appalachian State he scored 11 points in the Belk showdown on Feb. 19, including a pivotal windmill jam in the second half. He was even more impressive against the Mountaineers in the league championship, registering 17 points and nine rebounds in helping the Wildcats punch their Dance card. He capped his break-through campaign with a nine-point, eight-rebound effort versus Michigan in the NCAA tournament and was named CBS' Player of the Game.

1996-97: Ebong opted to redshirt the entire year, maintaining two years of eligibility and practicing with the Wildcats every day.

Ebong's Favorites

Favorite Food: Nigerian stew Author: Machiavelli Non-Hoops Interest: Nebraska football Place to Play Basketball: Belk Arena. That's where dreams are born. Person I would like to meet: Nicollo Machiavelli -- to ask him what he was really thinking. Event I would like to relive: The 1969 War of Biafra. My parents met there. Pet peeve: When I order no tomatoes and then get a tomato sandwich.

1995-96: After playing in Davidson's first 19 games, averaging 5.5 points and 3.1 rebounds as a regular in the bench rotation, he was forced to sit out the rest of the season due to injury. He had nine points and nine rebounds against Navy and scored a then-career high 10 points versus Rhodes. The Wildcats missed his presence dearly down the stretch and in the conference tourney, getting knocked around down low in their stunning title game loss to Western Carolina.

1994-95: He was a key bench player in the first few weeks of his rookie season, averaging 13.5 minutes a game in the first four contests before being forced to the sidelines with an injury following the Carrier Classic at Syracuse in December.

High School: A tremendous overall athlete, Ebong starred for Burke in basketball, leading the school to a district title and a spot in the state playoffs. He was named All-Metro, all conference, and all-state as a senior.

Personal: Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Ebong is one of seven Wildcats with an international background. His brother Victor, 20, is a junior at UNC Wilmington, while his brother Francis, is currently enrolled at the Naval Academy Prep School. A rabid Nebraska football fan, Ebong grew up wanting to be the best quarterback in the Big 8. He had a successful season as a professional sports fan, too -- his favorite teams are the NBA champion Chicago Bulls and Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

McKillop on Ebong: "Ben was a little rusty but came a long way last season. He's an outstanding athlete who gives us a lift with his energy and enthusiasm."

Ben Ebong's Career Davidson Statistics

Year 94-95 95-96 97-98 98-99 Totals

G-GS 4-0 19-0 30-2 22-3 75-5

Min 54 267 681 550 1552

Avg. 13.5 14.1 22.7 25.0 20.7

FG-FGA 5-16 30-60 99-192 91-173 225-441

FG% 31.3 50.0 51.6 52.6 51.0

3G-3GA 0-1 0-2 0-9 7-20 7-32

3G% 0.0 0.0 0.0 35.0 21.2

FT-FTA 5-6 20-32 85-138 67-94 177-270

FT% 83.3 62.5 61.6 71.3 65.6

OR 8 24 71 58 161

DR 6 34 114 81 235

Reb-Avg 14-3.5 58-3.1 185-6.2 139-6.3 396-5.3

PF-D 7-0 39-1 94-4 64-3 204-8

A 1 6 27 42 76

TO 2 15 65 51 133

Bl 0 8 23 9 40

S 2 8 29 34 73

Pts 15 80 283 256 634

Avg. 3.8 4.2 9.4 11.6 8.5

Hi 6 10 17 20 20