Box Score DURHAM, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com) – It was defense that propelled North Carolina Central University to its fourth MEAC win of the season as the Eagles forced the University of Maryland Eastern Shore into 21 turnovers, tying a season high and stormed out to a 43-12 halftime lead to coast to the 77-46 win on Monday night in McDougald-McLendon Gym.
 
The Eagles bolted out to a 13-0 lead over the first eight-plus minutes using stellar defense.  In fact, the first possession of the game for UMES resulted in a shot clock violation.  Seven turnovers and five missed shots resulted in the early deficit. 
 
It wasn’t until the 12:38 mark of the first half that the visiting Hawks were able to get on the board following a Louis Bell layup. 
 
UMES mounted a small rally to cut the deficit to 17-10 with 9:23 to go in the first half after a Hillary Haley jumper in the lane. 
 
From that point on the Eagles went on a 26-2 run that included five Eagle three-pointers from four different student-athletes.
 
NCCU added an exclamation point to end the first half when head coach LeVelle Moton called a 30-second timeout to set up a final play. It resulted in a Nick Chasten trey from the outside at the buzzard. Sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
 
Through the first 20 minutes NCCU held Maryland Eastern Shore to a paltry 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) from the field that included a 0-for-9 mark from three-point range. The Eagle defense converted 13 Hawk turnovers to 16 points.
 
The maroon and gray lit up the nets from the outside in the first frame going 7-for-15 (46.7 percent).    Sophomore point guard Emanuel Chapman (Raleigh, N.C.) dished out eight assists in the first frame to lead the Eagle offensive attack.
 
The 12 points scored by the Hawks was the lowest first half total since allowing five points on the road against Savannah State on January 20, 2010. NCCU led that contest 13-5 after the first 20 minutes.
 
NCCU put the contest in cruise control as the Hawks never trimmed the deficit below 25 points as the Eagles rolled to the 77-46 win.
 
Three student-athletes for NCCU registered double-figures in the win led by senior Dominique Sutton (Durham, N.C.) who nearly recorded his seventh double-double with a game-high 18 points, nine rebounds and two ferocious blocks. Ray Willis (Atlanta, Ga.) ended the night with 16 points that included a season-high 4-for-7 from three-point range.
 
Sophomore Jeremy Ingram (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 12 points in the win for the Eagles.
Following Saturday’s disastrous 23-for-37 (62.2 percent) performance from the foul line, the Eagles regained their form going 22-of-26 (84.6 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
NCCU (10-11 overall, 4-4 MEAC) looks to continue its winning ways as the maroon and gray head to the Sunshine state for a weekend road swing beginning Saturday, Feb. 4 at 4:00 p.m. against Florida A&M University, from the Lawson Center in Tallahassee, Fla.
 
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