DURHAM, N.C. – After beginning the 2015-16 season on the road at Clemson, the North Carolina Central University men's basketball team returned to McDougald-McLendon Arena and defeated Allen 78-54.

The game was a tight affair in the first half with the lead tilting back and forth as Allen (1-4) refused to go down easily.  NCCU (1-1) led by as much as six early, but the Yellow Jackets rallied to push into the lead briefly.

Allen actually held the lead five separate times in the first half, but after the Eagles regained the advantage after a three-pointer from Nate Allen (Toledo, Ohio) at 29-26, they never gave it back.  NCCU closed the half on a 9-0 run, and led 33-26 at the intermission.

NCCU out-scored Allen 45-28 and out-rebounded the Jackets 30-18 in the second half alone as the Eagles stretched the lead.  The Eagles picked up four double-digit scoring performances and two double-doubles, led by Jeremiah Ingram (Detroit, Mich.) with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the contest.

Jay Copeland (Suffolk, Va.) notched a double-double as well with 15 points and 11 boards, while going 6-7 from the floor.  A.J. Lynch flirted with a triple-double with 10 boards, five points and seven assists over 33 minutes.

The Eagles collected a total of 57 rebounds, which ties the school record in the Division I era.  NCCU last recorded 57 rebounds against Barber-Scotia on Dec. 17, 2014.

NCCU next travels to the Barclays Center to visit LIU Brooklyn to begin a three-game road excursion on Sunday, Nov. 22.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.