WASHINGTON, D.C. – North Carolina Central University once again had to make its free throws down the stretch to survive a nail biter, this time a 66-59 victory against Howard for a 12th straight win at Burr Gymnasium, on Monday, Feb. 20.
 
NCCU (20-6, 12-1) started the game on a 9-2 run, and then used strong rebounding to help establish a lead in the early going of the game.  Rashaun Madison (Norfolk, Va.) got going early for the Eagles as he nailed a pair of triples in the first frame, and Patrick Cole (Newark, N.J.) was also rolling with nine points and six rebounds for the maroon and gray.  NCCU led 39-29 at the half, and held a 24-21 rebounding advantage.
 
Howard (7-21, 4-9) was up for the task in the first half however, as Solomon Mangham (Stone Mountain, Ga.) stepped up to knock down three treys in the first half to keep the Bison close, as he finished the half with 11 points and six rebounds.
 
NCCU led by as many as 13 in the second half, but the Bison went on a surge midway through the period, and knotted the game at 56 and then took their first lead of the game, 58-56 with 7:10 to play.  The Eagles were able to clamp down from there and go on an 8-1 run to close the game with some clutch free throws to pull out the win.
 
Cole finished with his second consecutive double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Dajuan Graf (Charlotte, N.C.) flirted with a triple-double with 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.  Madison finished 11 points, and Del'vin Dickerson (Houston, Texas) was the fourth Eagle in double-digits with 10 points and seven boards.  Kyle Benton (Long Beach, Calif.) did not score, but he did contribute a strong defensive performance with nine rebounds.
 
Mangham was the go-to man for Howard as he finished with a double-double by collecting a team-high 16 points and 10 boards, and Charles Williams (Richmond, Va.) finished with 12 points and six rebounds.  Tyler Stone (Toronto, Canada) also was close to a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
NCCU will next take the floor for Senior Day against Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 4:00 p.m. at McDougald-McLendon Arena.