Box Score
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University outlasted the visiting Bears of Morgan State University 69-61 in a physical battle on Monday night inside McDougald-McLendon Gym, as the Eagles extend their win streak to seven games, the program’s longest stretch of victories since the start of the 1996-97 season.
NCCU (13-7) wraps up its first unblemished month since January 2000 and remains unbeaten in MEAC play at 6-0.
Senior forward Ray Willis (Atlanta, Ga.) topped the Eagles with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot. He shot 5 of 8 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free-throw line.
NCCU junior Stanton Kidd (Baltimore, Md.) added 13 points and a team-high seven boards, redshirt sophomore Jay Copeland (Suffolk, Va.) chipped in 10 points and four caroms, while junior Emanuel Chapman (Raleigh, N.C.) contributed nine points, four assists and three steals.
With 45 combined fouls whistled, the difference in the outcome was reflected at the charity stripe. Morgan State converted only 15 of its 32 free throws (46.9 percent), while NCCU made 26 of 33 at the foul line (78.8 percent).
Even with MSU’s 7-foot, 2-inch center Ian Chiles patrolling the paint, NCCU outrebounded the Bears 30-28 and the Eagles scored 14 second-chance points compared to 10 by the visitors.
The first 10 minutes of the contest was a sparring match with three ties and seven lead changes. With the score knotted at 19-19, Willis nailed a three-pointer at 9:19 to start a 7-0 Eagles’ run. The Bears managed the trim the deficit to two points on two occasions, but NCCU closed the half with a 13-4 run to take a 42-31 advantage into the locker room.
NCCU increased the cushion to as much as 11 points (49-38 at 14:36), but the Bears continued to battle back. After MSU narrowed the gap to three points twice, the Eagles responded by pushing the margin to 64-54 on a pair of Copeland free throws with 3:52 on the clock.
The Bears made one final charge, scoring seven unanswered points to make things interesting at 64-61 with 1:34 remaining.
On the following possession, NCCU answered the challenge as Willis found Kidd cutting to the basket and the 6-7 forward soared over the 7-2 center Chiles for a momentum-changing layup with 1:14 left to give the Eagles a 66-61 advantage.
MSU (6-11, 3-3 MEAC) had a chance to make it a one-possession game, but Anthony Hubbard missed a pair of free throws at 1:07.
After an NCCU turnover, Willis made steal while diving out of bounds, and Chapman nailed two free throws to seal the victory.
NCCU returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Delaware State University at 4 p.m. in Dover, Del.
