Eagles Start Slow, Soars Past Howard

DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University Eagles matched up with the Bison of Howard University and shook off their rocky start to win convincingly, 80-65 on Monday at McDougald-McLendon Arena.

Now with an above .500 record, NC Central stands at 14-13 (10-3) sitting second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. With the season winding down, Eagle players have turned it up. Team leader, forward Jibri Blount, showed his presence all over the court, collecting a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 64% from the field. 

NCCU had an array of players step up tonight against the Bison such as Mike Melvin who delivered seven points and 10 assists, Deven Palmer with 15 points, C. J. Keyser with 12 points, and both Ty Graves and Evan Clayborne 11 points. 

The Bison had control of this game early leading by 11, behind MEAC’s all-time leading scorer Charles Williams who finished with 22. Their only other double-digit scorer was Wayne Bristol who had 11. 

Coach LeVelle Moton expressed his satisfaction and also some criticism of tonight’s game for the Eagles. The Eagles pressed the entire game though Moton stated “[he] wasn’t pleased with [their] defensive effort… they shot too high of a percentage.” Besides this criticism, the Eagles will improve to their homestand to 10-0 on the season while holding 15 home game win streak. 

With three games left in the season, the Eagles will face South Carolina State in South Carolina on Saturday, February 29 at 4 pm. 

(Photo Courtesy of NCCU Athletics)