Box Score
NCCU vs. Wichita State Box Score (HTML)       NCCU vs. Wichita State Box Score (PDF)


WICHITA, Kan. – North Carolina Central University junior transfer Stanton Kidd’s (Baltimore, Md.) 22-point debut was not enough to overcome a 20-to-4 run midway through the first half as the Eagles dropped a 71-57 decision to the Shockers of Wichita State University on Saturday night in front of 10,491 fans inside of sold-out Charles Koch Arena to open the 2012-13 season.
 
The Shockers used the raucous atmosphere to jump out to a 9-2 lead in the first three minutes forcing head coach LeVelle Moton to call a timeout to settle his team down, which turned the tide in the maroon and gray’s favor as the Eagles went on a 9-3 run themselves over the next six-and-a-half minutes to cut the margin to one at 12-11 following a Kidd jumper 10:44 remaining in the first half.
 
Following Alfonzo Houston’s (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) three-point play with 8:11 remaining, NCCU trailed WSU 16-14.  From that point on the tide turned in the Shockers favor as they went on a 20-4 spurt to spread the margin out to 36-18 heading into the halftime break. 
 
During that time span, the Eagles missed nine shots that included three shots from the outside, while WSU drilled four three-pointers to extend the Shocker lead to 18 at the break. 
 
Through the first 20 minutes of play, NCCU shot just 7-of-26 from the field including 0-for-8 from the outside, while Wichita State was a scorching 5-for-9 (55.6 percent) from three-point land and shot 14-of-27 (51.9 percent) from the field.
 
The second half saw the Eagles pick up the intensity, but the maroon and gray simply could not get over the hump.  NCCU held WSU to 1-of-10 shooting from the field and Moton’s squad outscored the Shockers 39-35.
 
WSU extended its margin to 22 at 46-24 after a Malcom Armstead layup, but the Eagles simply would not go away cutting the margin to 16 after senior Ray Willis’s (Atlanta, Ga.) three-pointer with 6:19 left. 
 
Junior guard Jeremy Ingram’s (Charlotte, N.C.) layup and the foul with 1:06 to go cut the Shocker lead to 12 and that was as close as the maroon and gray would get as the contest ended with WSU hanging on for the 71-57 victory.
 
Kidd led all scorers with a game-high 22 points and nine rebounds, while WSU’s Carl Hall finished with a double-double 17 points and 13 rebounds despite going 4-for-10 from the floor but 9-of-11 from the foul line.
 
Also contributing for the Eagles, Ingram ended the night with 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while Willis finished the game with 10 points struggling from the field going 4-for-12 on the night.
 
Wichita State saw an excellent debut from Ron Baker who was 4-for-7 from three-point range and scored 18 points to lead the Shockers, while Cleanthony Early contributed 10 points in the victory.
 
NCCU (0-1) returns for its home opener on Monday night, Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m. from McDougald-McLendon Gym against the Wildcats of Johnson and Wales University before heading out to Laramie, Wyo. for the 2012 Global Sports Hoops Showcase from Nov. 14 through the 16.
 
The NCCU Sports Network will make its basketball debut on Monday night as the Eagles return to the friendly confines as play-by-play voice Chris Hooks and color analyst Joe Simmons will call the action for the third meeting between these two programs.
 
Stay up-to-date with North Carolina Central University Athletics by flying over to www.NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of NCCU Athletics.