Box Score
VIDEO:  Eagles Postgame Report Present by Tru-Pak Moving Systems (Howard)

DURHAM, N.C. - It was lockdown defense that helped North Carolina Central University keep its record perfect in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) as the Eagles held the Bison to 15 first half points and forced 17 turnovers en route to a 71-36 dominating victory over Howard University in front of 2,297 rowdy fans on Monday night in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.
 
NCCU came out ready to play as an early Stanton Kidd (Baltimore, Md.) highlight dunk helped push the maroon and gray out to an early 4-0 advantage, sending the crowd into an uproar.
 
The lead quickly increased on back-to-back Emanuel Chapman (Raleigh, N.C.) three pointers from the top of the key, putting the Eagles up 10-3, forcing Howard’s head coach, Kevin Nickelberry, to take a quick timeout with 16:30 to go in the first half.
 
The Bison never had an answer for the Eagles.
 
The next 8:12 of the ballgame belonged to the Eagles stifling bench, as they went on to score 11 of the next 14 points. Highlighted by a Drimir Ferguson (Bronx, N.Y.) layup and a couple of Antonin Galaya (St. Martin, French West Indies) shots from behind-the-arc.
 
Over the final six minutes of the first frame, NCCU outscored the Bison 16-to-4 taking a 40-15 lead into the locker room.
 
Through the first 20 minutes, the stifling NCCU defense held Howard to a measly 5-for-22 (22.7 percent) from the field and forced nine turnovers.  The Eagles converted those mishaps into 11 points to help build the early lead.
 
Coming out of the locker room the Eagles continued to dominate the Bison adding to the margin by scoring their first eight points of the stanza in consecutive makes at the foul line, increasing the lead to 48-16 with 14:42 left.
 
NCCU put the contest in cruise control as the Bison never trimmed the lead below 25 points.
 
Kidd led the Eagles in scoring with 12 points shooting four-of-eight from the field while grabbing seven boards as Chapman shot a perfect 3-for-3 on the night including 2-for-2 from the outside and the foul line to finish with 10 points 5 assists and two steals.  Ferguson chipped in 11 points along with five rebounds, and four assists as Jay Copeland (Suffolk, Va.) contributed 10 points along with four boards in the win.
 
With the win, NCCU head coach LeVelle Moton earned win No. 50 of his coaching tenure, and the Eagles extended their winning streak to five games for the first time since the 1999-2000 campaign.  One more victory will tie the longest win streak since that season.
 
NCCU (11-7 overall, 4-0 MEAC) will look to keep its perfect MEAC mark as they await a Saturday, Jan. 26 matchup against the fellow Eagles of Coppin State University inside McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.  Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
 
Stay up-to-date with North Carolina Central University Athletics by flying over to www.NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of NCCU Athletics.