Feb. 13, 2010
Final Stats
DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) - Junior shooting guard Vincent Davis poured in a game-high 23 points to lead four Eagles scoring in double figures as North Carolina Central University edged Longwood University 81-78 Saturday night inside McDougald-McLendon-Gymnasium in Durham, N.C.
The victory extends NCCU's win streak to three games, the longest successful run for the Eagles since making the move to Division I in 2007.
Davis equaled his season-high in scoring by connecting on 9-of-12 attempts from the field, including 3-for-5 from long range, and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. Junior transfer C.J. Wilkerson added 20 points for NCCU, mostly coming from the charity stripe on 12-of-15 shooting, while also distributing a season-high eight assists.
NCCU sophomore forward Nick Chasten and freshman forward Dijon Manns each contributed 15 points, both shooting 7-of-12 from the floor. Chasten also grabbed a team-best nine rebounds.
Longwood also had four student-athletes reach double figures in the scoring column, topped by a double-double performance by senior center Antwan Carter with 22 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Senior forward Dana Smith recorded 16 points for the Lancers, followed by Martiz Washington with 15 points and Aaron Mitchell with 12.
NCCU took a 47-42 cushion into the locker room at intermission, then built the advantage to as much as 13 points on a three-pointer by Davis with 12:15 remaining to make the score 64-51.
Over the next eight minutes, Longwood put together a 19-6 run, capped by a layup by Smith at 4:03 to give the Lancers a 71-70 lead, their first since midway through the first half.
The game was tied at 78-78 with less than a minute on the clock when Longwood's Carter was whistled for a travelling violation with just 32 seconds remaining.
With the Eagles holding the ball for one final shot, Wilkerson got Smith to leave his feet on a pump fake, and then drew the foul attempting a three-pointer with two seconds left. After missing the first free throw, Wilkerson made the next two to give the home team an 80-78 advantage.
Longwood's long in-bounds pass sailed out of play, giving NCCU possession under its own basket.
NCCU freshman forward Dami Sapara was fouled before the Eagles put the ball in play and made the second of two free throws for a three-point cushion.
The ensuing in-bounds pass was stolen by NCCU guard P.J. Taylor, who missed both free throws after being fouled with eight-tenths of a second left, but the Lancers only had time for a desperation heave by Smith that fell short.
NCCU returns home on Monday (Feb. 15) to host Coastal Carolina at 7 p.m. inside McDougald-McLendon Gym. NCCU's lone senior, Joshua Worthy, will be honored prior to the contest as part of Senior Night.
