Nov. 23, 2009
Final Stats
MIAMI, FLA. (NCCUEaglePride.com)- The North Carolina Central University men's basketball team wrapped up its portion of the Miami subregional round with a 79-66 loss to James Madison University in the 2009 2KSports Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer at U.S. Century Bank Arena on Monday afternoon.
Once again a great start by the Eagles was overeshadowed by a momentum swinging run by the opposition. With 14:44 to go in the first half, Vincent Davis (Nashville, Tenn.) hit his first three-pointer on the day, giving NCCU a four-point advantage at 15-11. Over the next 13:49 James Madison outscored NCCU 34-14 to take a 45-29 lead into the halftime break.
The main reason for the explosion, turnovers. NCCU committed 12 first-half turnovers, and the Dukes converted that into 16 points, the difference in the first 20 minutes.
The second half James Madison stretch the lead to 21at 52-31 following a Trevon Flores layup with 16:49 to go in the ballgame. A quick 6-0 run by the Eagles forced JMU head coach, Matt Brady, to call a timeout with the score 52-37. The first possession out of the timeout saw the Dukes, Darren White, hit a three point to get the margin back to 18, and JMU never looked back.
NCCU (1-5) continued to fight to the final whistle and keeping the margin at or around its final score at 79 to 66.
For the third straight contest, junior college transfer, C.J. Wilkerson (Oxford, N.C.) led the Eagles in scoring with 21 points, including 16 in the second half. Wilkerson was stellar from the charity stripe going 11-for-12 from the line to lead the Eagles in its third straight loss.
Also stepping up in the contest, freshman Dami Sapara (Staten Island, N.Y.), who nearly eanred his first career double-double 9 points in 8 rebounds with an assist, a block and a steal in 21 minutes of action. Not to be forgotten Nick Chasten (Raleigh, N.C.) added 12 points and six rebounds scoring in double figures in his second straight game.
Up next for NCCU, after heading back home, the Eagles get a break for the Thanksgiving holiday, then venture up north to face the Iowa Hawkeyes, on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. (EST).
To stay up-to-date with NCCU Athletics, log on to NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of the NCCU Athletics Department.
