Box Score
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Subject 2 Change Customs Highlights (Delaware State)
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University used a 13-to-4 late spurt to fight off a hard-charging Delaware State squad after seeing a double-digit halftime lead fall to earn its second straight MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) victory 62-52 in front of 2,989 fans inside McDougald-McLendon Gym on Saturday.
The first 20 minutes of play saw NCCU put on a clinic jolting out to a 13-5 lead on the Hornets in the first eight minutes and cruised out to a 32-21 advantage on the heels of shooting 14-for-25 (56.0 percent) from-the-field.
NCCU grabbed its largest lead at 14 points with 3:42 to go on an alley-oop dunk by junior Jordan Parks (Queens, N.Y.) as the first half saw a number of highlight reel plays that included superb passing by senior point guard Emanuel Chapman (Raleigh, N.C.), who finished with five assists in the half. Eight different Eagles scored in the first frame led by senior Jeremy Ingram's nine points, while Delaware State managed to shoot 7-for-21 (33.3 percent) from-the-field including 1-for-6 (16.7%) from behind-the-arc.
Delaware State answered with a big 16-6 run through the first 10 minutes of the second frame as the offense came alive to take their first lead of the game at 39-38 following Casey Walker's layup with 10:11 left.
That's when the maroon and gray responded with a 13-to-4 run over the next five minutes to snatch the lead back and take a 51-43 lead. The play of the game took play with 6:19 left in the game when Ingram stopped on the right wing in transition and drilled a three-pointer which sent the near-capacity crowd to their feet.
From that point on the Eagles added more cushion to the lead on the way to a 62-52 win over Delaware State, the program's second in-a-row against the Hornets, the first at home since rejoining the MEAC.
The win gives the Eagles 16 consecutive at home, as Ingram led all scorers with 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting, marking 17th time in his career where he has scored 20 or more points in a game. Parks finished with a near double-double 13 points and seven rebounds, while senior Alfonzo Houston ended up with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
NCCU (11-5, 2-1 MEAC) finished the game shooting 50.0 percent from the field (24-for-48) as the Eagles are now 36-3 all-time under head coach LeVelle Moton when shooting 50 percent or better. The maroon and gray outscored Delaware State in the paint 42-16 and outscored the Hornets 18-to-6 in points off turnovers.
Delaware State (4-13, 0-5 MEAC) had two players in double figures as leading scorer Casey Walker ended up with 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting including 1-for-5 from-the-outside, as did Tyshawn Bell who ended the game with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Next up for the Eagles, the arch-rival Aggies of North Carolina A&T on Wednesday night, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. inside McDougald-McLendon Gym.
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At halftime, members of the 1988-89 NCCU men's basketball team were honored as part of the 25th anniversary celebration for their NCAA Division II national championship.
