Box Score

Audio: NCCU Postgame Press Conference following loss to NC A&T


NORFOLK, VA. – A horrible night from the foul line and the field was just enough to undo North Carolina Central University as the Eagles tied a season low shooting percentage (22.6 percent) and missed 14 free throws in a 55-42 loss to arch-rival Aggies of North Carolina A&T on Wednesday night inside the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.
 
A Stanton Kidd (Baltimore, Md.) dunk with 15:53 to go put the Eagles up 7-0 on the Aggies through the first media timeout, but over the next four minutes, A&T swung back to take an 8-7 lead following a Lamont Middleton layup with 12:37 left in the first frame.
 
The Eagles went on an eight minute and 13 second scoring drought, while NC A&T took a 14-7 advantage.  In fact, the maroon-and-gray’s offense was so snakebitten, the Eagles managed to shoot just 26.1 percent from the field including a 2-for-11 (18.2 percent) from beyond-the-arc, and a paltry 1-for-7 (14.3 percent) from the foul line.
 
Junior Jeremy Ingram (Charlotte, N.C.) simply could not find his touch in the first frame shooting a disappointing 0-for-8, including 0-for-6 from the outside.
 
A second long drought for NCCU came through the final four-and-a-half minutes of the first frame, which was ended on an Alfonzo Houston three-pointer with 15 seconds left.
 
Despite being saddled with early foul trouble, senior Ray Willis (Atlanta, Ga.) led the Eagles in scoring as he threw in the first five points of the game as NCCU trailed A&T 20-15.  The Aggies didn’t fare much better going 5-for-19 (26.3 percent) and a meager 2-for-7 from behind-the-arc.
 
The second half saw more of the same shooting struggles from the maroon and gray, but continued to fight tooth-and-nail with their rival, all that was missing was a spark.
 
With the shot clock winding down for the Eagles, Ingram’s desperation shot banked in and cut the deficit to five at 23-18, but the Aggies had an answer.
 
With 15:57 to go in the game, a Bruce Beckford jumper put NC A&T up by double figures 29-19.
 
The Eagles returned the favor with a 7-0 run to dwindle the margin down to three at 29-26 following Drimir Ferguson’s (Bronx, N.Y.) three-pointer, but A&T’s Jean Louisme hit a big jumper to put the margin back up to five at 31-26.
 
On NCCU’s next possession, Ingram drilled a three with 13:05 left to cut the deficit back to two at 31-29 sending the Eagle fans in attendance to their feet, which was tied up at 31 just a minute later thanks to Ingram’s bucket.
 
With the contest tied at 34 with 10:08 left, NC A&T made its final and best move of the night, outscoring the Eagles 8-2 to take a 42-36 advantage with 5:26 remaining.
 
Over the last five minutes of the game, NCCU simply struggled the rest of the way scoring only six points during that time frame as the Aggies pulled away for the 55-42 win.
 
NCCU (22-9, 15-1 MEAC) shot just 12-for-26 from the foul line, and was 12-for-53 from the field (22.6 percent) in the loss. 
 
The Eagles were led by Kidd’s 13 points despite 4-for-11 shooting from the field, while the MEAC’s second leading scorer Ingram was 3-for-17 from the field, 2-for-11 from the outside to finish with 11 points.  To make matters more frustrating for the 6-3 junior was Ingram finished 3-for-8 from the foul line in the loss.
 
NC A&T (17-16, 8-8 MEAC) was by both Adrian Powell and Middleton’s 13 points apiece in the win, as the Aggies advance to the MEAC semifinals on Friday night.
 
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