Game Statistics Video: Postgame Interview
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (NCCUEaglePride.com) - The Eagles of North Carolina Central University shot an identical 7-for-23 (30.4%) from the field in each half, which was a season low, and were outscored in the second half behind a stellar shooting University of Michigan squad 41-25, seeing a four-point first half deficit stretch to a 64-44 defeat on Tuesday night in front of 8,740 fans inside Crisler Arena.
Junior transfer Landon Clement (Raleigh, N.C.) led all scorers with 15 points on the night going 3-for-9 for the second straight game from three-point range. The win extends UM’s winning streak to five games as the Eagles fall for the second straight contest.
In the first half both teams endured long offensive droughts as the visiting Eagles went nearly six-and-a-half minutes without a bucket while the Wolverines went seven minutes and thirteen seconds without scoring a field goal. Michigan was a frigid 2-for-16 from the perimeter in the first half but took a 23-19 lead into the locker room.
The second stanza saw the Wolverines warm up from behind-the-arc hitting six threes that helped key a 20-5 run and allowed Michigan to pull away for the win. With 10:35 to go in the game David Best (Raleigh, N.C.) hit a layup to cut the deficit to 10 at 41-31. Over the next six minutes and 18 seconds, Michigan’s lead grew to as high as 25 at 59-34 following a Tim Hardaway, Jr three-pointer with 4:18 left.
The 44 points is the lowest point total of the season for the Eagles, as Clement was the lone player for NCCU to reach double-figures. The Wolverines were led by point guard Darius Morris who finished with 12 points, while Hardaway, Jr contributed 11 points, and Evan Smotrycz finished with 10 points in the seventh home win of the season for UM.
On a disappointing note, senior C.J. Wilkerson (Oxford, N.C.), went a frustrating 1-for-9 scoring just seven points in the loss, ending a 16-game streak of scoring in double figures.
On the other hand, the Eagles went 12-for-15 (80.0%) from the charity stripe putting the maroon and gray at 22-for-27 (81.4%) in the last two games.
NCCU (4-5) has a week off before its final contest before the holiday break as the Eagles will venture to Fort Myers, Fla. to battle Florida Gulf Coast University on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 5:00 p.m. from Alico Arena. This will mark the third meeting between these two transition programs.
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