Jan. 30, 2010

Final Stats

RALEIGH, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com)- Despite the treacherous weather all around the triangle, the North Carolina Central University Eagles stayed with its current theme this season of giving top notch opponents all it could handle through the first 20 minutes. That was certainly the case on a snowy Saturday afternoon as NCCU led much of the first half, falling behind in the second frame behind a scorching hot shooting NC State team to drop the contest 77-42 at the RBC Center.

NCCU came out strong from the get go with its scrappy matchup zone defense and early hot shooting to grab a 7-4 lead just five minutes into the contest. In fact the Eagles led 11-4 following a C.J. Wilkerson (Oxford, N.C.) layup. The Eagles held on to the lead deep into the first stanza until a Dennis Horner jumper gave the Wolfpack its first lead at 19-18 with 6:38 remaining.

This marks the latest in a game that NCCU has held an advantage against an ACC opponent. The prior lead the Eagles held late into a game vs. the ACC was at Miami back on Nov. 14 when NCCU led 21-20 with 7:26 remaining in the first half. The seven-point lead today marks the second-most versus an ACC team. The Eagles led NC State by 8 points (10-2 at 16:32) during the last meeting on Feb. 3, 2009

The Wolfpack ended the first half on an 8-2 run that was highlighted by a Tracy Smith buzzer beating jumper to put NC State up 27-20.

The theme of the second half was NC State got hot and NCCU ran out of gas as the Wolfpack shot a spectacular 18-for-23 from the field (78.3%), while the Eagles went 5-for-30 (16.7%). The Wolfpack lead grew to 17 at 51-34 after a Richard Howell layup, and NC State cruised from there ending the matchup on 26-8 as NCCU struggled to end the game.

Wilkerson was the lone Eagle to score in double figures with 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Raleigh native, Nick Chasten, threw in most of his nine points in the first half. Another native of North Carolina's capital city, Dijon Manns, added eight points that included going 6-for-6 free-throw line.

NCCU (4-19) falls for the thrid straight time to NC State, and also finds itself in the midst of a three-game losing streak. The Eagles look forward to the five-game homestand this Tuesday night Feb. 2 at 7:00 from McDougald-McLendon Gym, as they host the Leathernecks of Western Illinois.

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