Nov. 30, 2007

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DES MOINES, IOWA - North Carolina Central University head men's basketball coach Henry Dickerson said his team needed to make free throws and reduce turnovers in order to win.

The Eagles did manage to shoot a season-high 81.8 percent from the foul line, but they committed 26 turnovers during an 85-48 first-round loss to Drake University, the host team in the inaugural Iowa Realty Invitational in Des Moines, Iowa.

NCCU had 19 turnovers in the first half, which resulted in 29 points for the Bulldogs. Drake held a 44-18 advantage at intermission, which is the lowest offensive output in the first half for the Eagles this season.

"The first half we did not compete the way we want them to," said Dickerson. "We did a better job in the second half. If we played the first half like we did in the second half, the game would have been closer."

NCCU (1-8) was led by Des Moines, Iowa, native Ashton Sauls with 15 points, while Bryan Ayala added 13 points (all in the second half) and Charles Futrell had 12 points and nine rebounds. Joshua Worthy contributed nine boards, four steals and four blocked shots for the visiting Eagles.

Drake (4-1) posted five players in double-figures, topped by Leonard Houston's game-high 18 points.

NCCU will play Cal State Northridge in the consolation game on Saturday at 5 p.m. (CT), while Drake and Duquesne face off in the Iowa Realty Invitational championship game at 7:30 p.m. (CT).