Box Score HAMDEN, Conn. – North Carolina Central University held the lead for the first 12 minutes of 40 against Quinnipiac, but the Bobcats had the final say as they defeated the Eagles, 69-59.
NCCU (1-3) hopped out to a 6-0 lead as QU (2-2) missed its first four shots and turned the ball over three times in the first five minutes, and it took the Bobcats a while to find their footing.
NCCU surged forward and led by as many as eight in the first half, up 15-7 after a steal by
Kyle Benton (Long Beach, Calif.) finished by a one-handed jam by
Jamal Ferguson (Norfolk, Va.). Ferguson and
Dante Holmes (Baltimore, Md.) actually combined for NCCU's first 15 points; Holmes contributed nine, and Ferguson posted six. From there, the Bobcats went on an 11-2 run, and clawed in front, 18-17.
Both teams traded baskets for a few possessions, but then QU found a way to separate. Down 22-21 behind the Eagles, the Bobcats went on another run; this time a 10-2 run to pull in front 31-24 with just a few seconds left.
As the clock wound down expired in the first half,
Dajuan Graf (Charlotte, N.C.) was able to find Ferguson on the right wing who was able to find the net with a three pointer before the light went off, and the Eagles went to the half down 31-27.
The Bobcats scored first in the second half, but the Eagles engineered a 6-0 run, punctuated by a fast-break layup by Benton to draw NCCU on even ground with the score 33 all after the first two-and-a-half minutes.
QU responded with an unanswered run of its own, an 11-0 rally that lasted three-and-a-half minutes to move the Bobcats up to stay, 44-33.
NCCU fought to stay in the contest, but couldn't get close enough to challenge down the stretch.
In his second appearance for NCCU,
Jeremiah Worthem (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the Eagles in scoring with 12 points with seven boards, followed by Holmes with 10 points and seven rebounds and Ferguson with 11 points.
NCCU next visits Louisiana Tech on Friday, Nov. 27 to finish the three-game road trip.
