Game Statistics
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com)- With a bloody lip and the game on the line, junior forward Nick Chasten (Raleigh, N.C.) recorded his second straight double-double including a career-high 24 points as the Eagles of North Carolina Central University won their first road game in nearly two years taking down the Bulldogs of South Carolina State University in overtime 74-71 at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on Saturday afternoon.
Chasten had to leave the ballgame with 7:36 to go when he collided with a Bulldog player forcing him to play with the injured lip that later received stitches playing the rest of the contest with gauze in his mouth.
The win for NCCU marked not only head coach LeVelle Moton’s first road victory, but the Eagles first away from the Bull City since 65-61 decision over Coppin State on Jan. 30, 2008.
The maroon and gray stormed out in front leading for 18 minutes and 34 seconds of the first stanza. In fact, the Eagles were scorching from the field missing just nine shots (17-of-26, 65.4%), including 7-of-11 from three point range, but only led 42-32 at the half following a late rally by the Bulldogs.
The script flipped in the second half as the Bulldogs, who were picked in the preseason to finish second in the MEAC, used a 19-to-7 run through the first eight minutes to grab their first lead since the opening tip at 51-49 with 11:52 to go.
With the score tied at 54 and 9:47 remaining, a C.J. Wilkerson (Oxford, N.C.) layup and a Chasten three pointer put the Eagles up by 5 at 59-54 with 8:31 remaining.
NCCU stayed ahead for most of the late stages of the second half until turnovers saw the Bulldogs guard, Carrio Bennett, tie the contest up at 65 with 11 seconds left.
A Justin Leemow (Brooklyn, N.Y) turnover gave SCSU possession of the basketball with 10.7 seconds to go and a chance to win the ballgame, but again Chasten came up big and caused a Bulldog turnover giving the Eagles new life and a chance to steal the win with 5.7 seconds left. Wilkerson game-winning attempt just missed and sent the game to overtime knotted up at 65.
In the extra frame, NCCU hit back-to-back three pointers by Wilkerson and Clement to put the Eagles up 71-69 with 2:15 left. It was a lead the Eagles would not relinquish hanging on for the 74-71 win.
In the win, the Eagles improved its record to 4-3 on the season, as the injured-Chasten led all scorers with 24 points and tied SCSU’s Omar Sanders with 11 rebounds, giving him 26 rebounds in the last two ballgames. Wilkerson dropped in 22 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the perimeter, as Clement added 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the outside.
For SCSU (3-4) Bennett ended the afternoon with 21 points along with Darnell Porter who scored 16 points and Sanders who finished with a double-double of his own with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
NCCU has the week off for exams before its next contest as the Eagles take on the United States Air Force Academy next Saturday Dec. 11 from Clune Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo. at 9:00 p.m.
To stay up-to-date with NCCU Athletics, log on to NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of the NCCU Athletics Department.
