SAVANNAH, Ga. – An early 15-0 run from North Carolina Central University and a career-high 30 points from Patrick Cole (Newark, N.J.) set the tone as the Eagles earned their first road win of the year at Savannah State with a 69-46 victory at Tiger Arena on Monday, Jan. 11.

NCCU (7-11,2-2) got off to a red-hot start as they reeled off a 15-0 run over five minutes to pull ahead of SSU (5-9, 1-2) 21-8 with 8:19 to play in the half.  Rashaun Madison (Norfolk, Va.) was responsible for six of those points with a pair of threes, and totaled eight points in the first half.

SSU didn't score a field goal for a full seven minutes as a result of the run, but afterward they were able to chip away at the deficit in the first half as they responded with a 6-0 run. The Tigers went on to finish the period with a 7-4 run to trail NCCU 29-23 at the half.  Cole notched 10 points over 18 minutes in the first half, benefitting from hitting all six of his free throws over the period.

SSU took its turn to bolt out of the blocks in the second half with a 6-0 run to level the game at 29 after just 1:51 played in the half.  Jeremiah Ingram (Detroit, Mich.) then hit a key trey to separate the two sides and the Eagles held on to the lead for the rest of the game.

Cole upped the ante for NCCU in the second half pouring in 20 points for a career-high 30 to help push the Eagles ahead while hitting 12 of a total 14 free throws over the course of the game.  He went six-for-10 from the floor and made two of three triples along with an additional six made free throws out of eight attempts. Cole is the first Eagle to score 30 points in a game since Jordan Parks (Queens, N.Y.) against College of Faith on Nov. 28, 2014.

Lenjo Kilo (Silver Spring, Md.) had a big game for SSU as he ripped 15 boards along with 14 points for his double-double.

Dante Holmes (Baltimore, Md.) finished his night with 13 points, and Madison reached 11 points with five boards.  Kyle Benton (Long Beach, Calif.) led NCCU with rebounding as he earned eight boards in the paint.

NCCU next hosts Norfolk State at 4:00 p.m. inside McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday, Jan. 16.

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