ORANGEBURG, S.C. – North Carolina Central University was out-gunned by a hot-shooting South Carolina State University squad as the Bulldogs were able to pull away for a 91-75 win at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center in Orangeburg, South Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016.

SC State (7-10, 2-1 MEAC) shot 63.3 percent from the floor (31-49) and made 12 of 22 three-pointers on its way to the victory.

SC State got off to a hot shooting start as they hit 7 of 12 three-pointers in the first half.  Ed Stephens (Columbia, S.C.) was responsible for two of them as he got up to 11 points in the first half of play.

Patrick Cole (Newark, N.J.) came alive down the stretch for NCCU (6-11, 1-2 MEAC) as well as he picked up three treys in the first 20 minutes on his way to 12 points.  SC State built up a double-digit lead and even though the Eagles were able to make headway multiple times during the half, NCCU went to the intermission down 41-31.

SC State continued the strong three-point shooting into the second half as Stephens and Tashombe Riley (Orangeburg, S.C.) dominated the score book in the second half combining for 21 of SCSU's 50 after the break.

SC State led by as many as 20 in the half, but NCCU cut the deficit to as low as nine with help from Cole as he poured in 12 points of his game-high and NCCU career-high 24 after the midway point.  However, strong team play from SC State kept the Eagles at bay as four Bulldogs ended in double-figures led by Stephens' 23 points.

Dante Holmes (Baltimore, Md.) had a strong second half with eight of his 10 points, and Jeremiah Ingram (Detroit, Mich.) put in 12 points for NCCU.

The win for SC State marked its first victory against NCCU in 10 meetings, and the first time in the Division I era for NCCU.

The Eagles next head to Savannah State on Monday, Jan. 11.

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