DURHAM, N.C. – In a matchup that had 13 lead changes and 12 ties, North Carolina Central University needed a basket in the closing seconds and one last defensive stand to hold off Coppin State University for a 79-77 victory on Saturday, as the host Eagles escaped McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium with their 30th straight win at home.
 
Trailing by two points with less than a minute-and-a-half left, NCCU senior forward Jordan Parks tied the game at 77-77 with a layup off a pass by point guard Nimrod Hilliard with 1:18 remaining.
 
Parks then used his athleticism to reject a shot attempt by the visiting Eagles to keep the score even and provide NCCU with possession.
 
After a timeout, NCCU senior forward Karamo Jawara missed a shot, but Parks was there to clean it up, giving NCCU a 79-77 lead with 11 seconds left.
 
Following another timeout, CSU guard Taariq Cephas, who finished with 10 points and 12 assists, drove to the basket and passed the ball back outside to teammate Christian Kessee for an open look at the potential game-winning three-pointer. Kessee, who had already drained three from long distance as part of his team-high 19 points, missed the mark and it was Parks that secured the rebound and the win for NCCU as the buzzer sounded.
 
Parks wrapped up a productive afternoon with game-highs of 25 points and 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. Jawara also recorded a double-double, the first of his career, with 15 points and 10 boards. Dante Holmes contributed 19 points for NCCU, including 13 points in the first half to keep the host Eagles close, trailing 41-38 at intermission.
 
NCCU (15-5, 7-0 MEAC) has won its last nine games, and has beaten 25 consecutive teams from the MEAC. Coppin State (2-17, 1-5 MEAC) has lost all 14 road games this season.
 
Up next, NCCU hosts Delaware State on Monday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m., televised live on ESPNU.
 

---

FROM AN EAGLE'S EYE...
Game Story by NCCU Student Genesis Jackson

It was Eagle over Eagle Saturday afternoon in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium where NCCU (15-5, 7-0 MEAC) continued to protect the nest by defeating Coppin State University (2-17, 1-5 MEAC), 79-77.

NCCU came into the "black-out" game as the only unbeaten team in conference play. Finishing the first half down by three points (38-41), Dante Holmes led the maroon and gray in the half with 13 points. Taariq Ceephas closed out the first half for CSU adding two points to the board at the buzzer.

Jordan Parks scored a team-high 25 points with 11 rebounds, two assists and a block to add to the high energy of the NCCU fans.

CSU's Christian Kessee scored four points less than his last 23 points again Florida A&M this past Monday. He ended the competition with 19 points.  

Just two minutes into the second half, CSU's big man Jerimyjah Batts was sent to the bench for the rest of the game emanating from an apparent elbow to the mouth.

Karamo Jawara came from the halftime locker room on fire, adding eight points to the scoreboard for NCCU in the opening 3:30 of play in the second half.

Tables quickly turned when CSU's Dallas Gary tied the game at 70-70 with a 3-pointer with 5:25 left in the half.

With two minutes left, Parks' layup from Nimrod Hilliard brought the energy back and tied the competition at 77-77. Parks determined the win with 11 seconds left in the game, adding two points to the stats, which encouraged the win.

Coach LeVelle Moton is not completely satisfied with the win over the visiting Eagles. "We just have to execute better as coaches and as players," Moton said.

Up next, NCCU returns home on Monday, Jan. 26 to play Delaware State University at 7:00 p.m. inside McDougald-McLendon Gym for an ESPNU televised game.