TOWSON, Md. – Towson used a powerful ground attack to overcome a four-point second quarter deficit en route to a 31-20 win over visiting North Carolina Central University inside Johnny Unitas Stadium on Saturday night.
 
NCCU held a 14-10 lead late in the second quarter, thanks to a 10-yard touchdown run by senior running back Andre Clarke (his fifth rushing TD of the season) and a 50-yard touchdown pass play from sophomore quarterback Malcolm Bell to junior receiver Quentin Atkinson with 8:19 remaining until intermission. But that was the last time the Eagles found the end zone.
 
Towson took a 17-14 lead with just 32 seconds left in the second quarter on a 22-yard pass from junior quarterback Connor Frazier to senior receiver Spencer Wilkins.
 
On the opening drive of the third quarter, Towson sophomore running back Darius Victor busted loose for a 53-yard gain to the Eagles' 1-yard line, then finished the drive with his second trip to the end zone to increase the Tigers' advantage to 24-14.
 
NCCU sophomore place-kicker Brandon McLaren made back-to-back field goals from 45 and 43 yards out to narrow the deficit to 24-20 with 2:02 remaining in the third quarter.
 
On the opening drive of the fourth quarter, Towson posted an 11-play, 91-yard drive that was capped with a third touchdown run by Victor to provide the Tigers with an 11-point cushion. The play before the score, Towson faced a fourth down an five yards to go situation, and converted with a 20-yard pass from Frazier to Wilkins.
 
With less than five minutes left to play, NCCU moved the ball to the Towson 7-yard line with first-and-goal. The Eagles had two chances from the 1-yard line, but did not score.
 
The Tigers amassed 422 yards of total offense, including 261 yards rushing. Victor did most of the damage, rushing for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Frazier completed 15-of-22 passes for 161 yards and that second-quarter touchdown toss to Wilkins, who finished with eight receptions for 100 yards for Towson (2-2).
 
NCCU (1-3) managed 346 yards of total offense. Bell threw for 264 yards and a touchdown on 25-of-35 passing with an interception. Junior receiver Adrian Wilkins caught eight passes for 59 yards, while adding a 42-yard punt return and 48 kickoff return yards. Atkinson ended up with six receptions for 96 yards and a score.
 
Defensively, senior safety #C.J. Moore# recorded a team-best 10 tackles, followed by senior safety Sayyid Muhammad with eight stops. Sophomore linebacker Jordan Miles tallied seven takedowns with a fumble recovery, and junior safety Theo Livingston collected five tackles and an interception in the end zone, which was the first turnover of the season by Towson.
 
NCCU has a bye week before returning to O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Oct. 4 to host Howard University at 2 p.m.