NCCU Eagles End Non-Conference Slate on a High Note

DURHAM, NC – The North Carolina Central University Eagles had to wait quite a while before it could finally play inside McDougald-McLendon Arena, and the Eagles took full advantage of playing at home with a 94-61 victory over Carver College on Friday, January 29.

NCCU and Carver (0-20) kept each other at arms-length in the opening stages of the game, but the Eagles put together a 9-0 run to take a 20-11 advantage eight minutes into the game, and never looked back from there. NCCU shot 50.0 percent from the floor in the first half on the way to a 47-26 lead, and that was helped by an 11-point outburst from freshman guard Justin Wright including a tip-in in the final seconds of the period.

The Eagles became even more accurate in the second half, as the squad knocked down shots at an impressive 58.8 percent clip on the way to a 94-61 final score. Guard Deven Palmer took his turn to shine in the second half as he drilled four consecutive three-pointers on his way to a career-high five treys made as an Eagle for a total of 17 points and five boards.

C.J. Keyser also exploded in the second half as he scored 13 points after the intermission on the way to a game-high 22 points and a joint game-high four steals. Jordan Perkins came one assist shy of a double-double with nine dimes and ten points, and Wright stuffed the stat sheet as he finished with career-highs of 12 points, six assists, six rebounds, and four steals.

The Cougars saw three players reach double-digits, led by guards Stephon Auguste and Bryson Scott with 15 points, and forward Antwon Ferrell followed with 14 points.

As a team, the Eagles helped each other with 25 assists, the most since the Eagles reached that same mark against Howard on Feb. 24, 2020.

The Eagles (2-3, 0-0 MEAC) will stay at home and enter Southern Division play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference on Monday, February 1 against South Carolina State at 9 p.m. on ESPN2