NCCU’s Wright Has Career Night in Win at UMES

Justin Wright scored 14 of his career-high 21 points in the second half as the North Carolina Central University men’s basketball program squeaked out a 72-63 win over Maryland Eastern Shore inside Hytche Arena on Monday, Jan. 24.

NCCU (8-9, 2-0 MEAC) raced out of the gates in the first half, just like it did in its previous game at Delaware State and shot 59.3 percent (16-for-27) from the floor and 53.8 percent (7-for-13) from downtown in the first 20 minutes to gain a 43-33 edge at the break. Kris Monroe (Raleigh, N.C.) spearheaded the Eagles in the first period with three treys and had a joint game-high nine points along with Ja’Darius Harris (Trenton, Tenn.) at the intermission.

The Eagles expanded their lead out to as much as 20 in the second half, but MDES (5-9, 0-3 MEAC) found a way to whittle the gap down to as little as five with just under three minutes remaining. Justin Wright (Greenville, N.C.) stepped up for the maroon and gray and scored seven of the Eagles’ last nine points – all at the free-throw line – to help the Eagles to a 72-63 win on the road.

Wright scored 14 of his career-best 21 points in the second half and recorded 20 points or more in consecutive games for the first time in his career. He also pulled down a joint game-high six rebounds and served up a team-high tying five assists. Monroe finished with 16 points and six boards, and Harris contributed 12 points from the bench.

Dom London (Christiana, Pa.) led the Hawks with 16 points, and Kohen Thompson (Memphis, Tenn.) followed with 10 points for the hosts. Da’Shawn Phillip (Baltimore, Md.) had a complete game with eight points, a game-high six assists, four rebounds, and three steals.

The Eagles will return home to host Howard on Saturday, Jan. 29 inside McDougald-McLendon Arena at 4:00 p.m.