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Eagles Fly Over SC Bulldogs

Thomas Tripp

DURHAM, NC – The North Carolina Central University Eagles Basketball Team (9-8 overall and 2-1 MEAC) ensured the introduction of the “Moton Maniacs” student section to inspire the Eagles to a victory.

Thanks to 17 points from Senior Guard Eric Boone (Lexington, KY/Georgia Southern), Graduate Center Brendan Medley-Bacon (Baltimore, MD) scoring 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds, as well as Junior Guard Justin Wright (Farmville, NC) and Redshirt Junior Forward Kris Monroe having 13 points each, the Eagles held off a strong performance from the South Carolina State Bulldogs (3-16 overall and 0-3 MEAC), by defeating them 71-67, in front of 2,477 fans at McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium.

Within ten seconds of the game, NCCU struck first, thanks to a basket from Brendan Medley-Bacon from the inside, as the Eagles took a 2-0 lead. Then, South Carolina State responded by a layup from a rebound by Sophomore Center Dallas James (Artesia, CA) to even it out at two apiece. Afterwards, the Bulldogs went on a 9-0 scoring run at 3:12 – thanks to baskets from Freshman Guard Jordan Simpson (Orangeburg, SC) and free throws from Junior Guard Shaman Alston (Columbia, SC) and Junior Guard Cameron Jones (Memphis, TN), to put them ahead by the score of 35-32.

It was such a hard-fought game, as the Eagles and the Bulldogs tied at 38 apiece. For South Carolina State, Simpson was the leader with 10 points and five rebounds, while Wright shared the same statistics for NCCU.

The second half was also tight. In 19:03, Junior Forward Justin Wilson scored on a layup inside for the first basket of the half, to put the Bulldogs ahead by the score of 40-38. Then, at 18:27, Senior Guard Eric Boone drilled a three-pointer to put the Eagles ahead, 41-40. Then, for the Eagles, Wright hit another three to increase the lead by four. South Carolina State responded back, thanks to Sophomore Guard Lesown Hallums, Jr. (Brooklyn, NY), to alleviate the deficit to two.

For three minutes, the Eagles were scoreless until Boone hit a jumper to put them ahead, 53-49 with 11:12 remaining. Then, he followed it up with a free throw, to give NCCU a 53-49 advantage. NCCU went on a 6-2 run, thanks to Boone’s extra baskets consisting of a layup and Medley-Bacon’s series of free throws, where they led 59-52, with 9:37 remaining.

The Eagles closed the game with Boone and Harris scoring on fastbreaks, while Simpson of South Carolina State made the final basket with six seconds to go, with a three-pointer. However, it was not enough, as NCCU won by the score of 71-67.

The next game for North Carolina Central is when they host Delaware State, in a 4:00 PM showdown. On the other hand, South Carolina State hosts Maryland-Eastern Shore at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton at 4:00 PM in Orangeburg, SC.