Eagles Stopped by Hosts UTEP in Opening Round of Sun Bowl Invitational

EL PASO, Texas – Both North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) held the lead five times during this contest, but the Miners put together a late charge to come away with a 71-60 win in the opening round of the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at the Don Haskins Center.

NCCU (6-8) will face Sam Houston State in the final round on Wednesday, Dec. 23, after the Bearkats fell to Bradley, 87-61.

The Eagles displayed the same explosive scoring as they had in their last game against Delaware State, as NCCU put together an 8-0 run to grab an early 16-9 lead over UTEP (7-4) in the first seven minutes.  The Miners eventually wrestled the lead back from the Eagles and took a 33-26 lead to the break.

NCCU shot 62.5 percent from the field in the second half, and 55.6 percent from the arc for the game, and the Eagles were able to use that momentum to draw within four with 11 minutes remaining.  However, a late 7-1 run with less than three minutes remaining gave the Miners the breathing room they needed for the victory to advance to the championship round.

Sophomore Justin Wright (Greenville, N.C.) came one rebound shy of his first career double-double with 12 points and nine boards, and he also tacked on four assists.  Randy Miller Jr. (Odenton, Md.) put in a team-high 15 points with five boards, and Dontavius King (Greenville, S.C.) followed with 13 points of his own.  Kris Monroe (Raleigh, N.C.) was the fourth Eagle to reach 10 points, as he contributed 11 points.

Keonte Kennedy (Austin, Texas) scored a game-high 27 points for the Miners, and Christian Agnew (Detroit, Mich.) was a big factor with 16 points and five caroms.  Jorell Saterfield (Chicago, Ill.) dropped in 13 points for the hosts.

The Eagles will play their final game of 2021 against Sam Houston State at 7:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. MT) on Wednesday, Dec. 22 in the consolation game of the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.