NCCU MBB Falls at Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia’s hot start and nationally ranked defense hinders the North Carolina Central University men’s basketball team with UVA defeating the Eagles 77-47 on Tuesday at the John Paul Jones Arena.

Head coach LeVelle Moton switched up the starting lineup for the second consecutive game due to injuries. Senior Terrence Crawford and sophomore Josh Smith made their first career starts for NCCU.

Josh Smith scored the first points for the Eagles after Virginia got off to a fast 6-0 start. Isaac McKneely of UVA scored four straight threes to open the game. Six layups from sophomore Perry Smith Jr. and a thunderous dunk by junior Keishon Porter cut the 12-4 lead to 16-10 with the Cavaliers ahead.

After trading buckets, Virginia went on a 12-0 run before a pair of free throws by Porter and a fast break dunk from sophomore Po’Boigh King gave NC Central four points before the last media timeout of the half.

King’s dunk would be the final points scored by NCCU before halftime as the Eagles trailed 41-17. Perry Smith scored six points and four rebounds, while Josh Smith finished the first 20 minutes with five points and two assists.

Junior Cobey Harraway, Perry Smith, and Porter combined to score the first nine points for the Eagles through the first seven minutes of the second period with Virginia’s lead increasing to 30 points. Guy Fauntleroy scored all 11 of his points in the last 20 minutes of the game.

The Eagles scored 30 points in the second half and held Virginia to 36. NCCU did have more second-chance points than UVA (8-6) but won the assists battle 24-8 and made nine three-pointers with seven coming in the first half. Perry Smith led North Carolina Central with 12 points and six rebounds.

NC Central will battle another school in Virginia as they travel to Radford University on Saturday, Dec. 9. The game tips off at 4:30 p.m.