DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Using a dominant second-half performance, North Carolina Central University finished with 489 yards of total offense in a 31-14 victory over Bethune-Cookman University on Saturday night at Municipal Stadium. NCCU snapped a six-game losing skid to the Wildcats and remains unbeaten in MEAC play.  
 
After posting 154 total yards in the first half, NCCU (3-2, 2-0 MEAC) exploded for 335 yards of total offense after intermission. The NCCU defensive unit held Bethune-Cookman, which rushed for 112 yards in the opening 30 minutes, to only 13 ground yards and 121 total yards in the second half.
 
NCCU senior quarterback Malcolm Bell accounted for 325 yards of total offense, passing for 295 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 30 yards and a score. Sophomore running back Ramone Simpson ran for a career-best 116 yards, including a 40-yard dash into the end zone to put the game out of reach with less than two minutes remaining.
 
Three NCCU receivers had a team-high three receptions with Jalen Wilkes going for 90 yards, Khalil Stinson 50 yards and a touchdown, and David Miller 48 yards.
 
Defensively, safety Josiah Dailey led the Eagles with nine tackles, while end Frederick Henry-Ajudua recorded six stops with three solo sacks. Linebacker Reggie Hunter and tackle Ja'Quan Smith contributed five takedowns and an assisted sack each, while cornerback Mike Jones added four tackles, a pass break-up and an interception to seal the victory.
 
Bethune-Cookman (0-4, 0-2 MEAC) struck first with a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard touchdown run by Jamaruz Thompkins with 3:07 left in the first quarter.
 
NCCU managed to tie the score at 7-7 just before the break when Stinson made a diving reception in the end zone from 25 yards out with only 24 second left in the second quarter.
 
The Eagles took the lead with 9:58 left in the third quarter when Bell rolled out to his left and lobbed a 4-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Glen Calvin for his first career scoring reception.
 
After a 9-yard TD pass from Bell to Miller was negated by a penalty, NCCU settled for a 27-yard field goal by Brandon McLaren.
 
Before the ensuing kickoff, the game was suspended due to lightning with 6:35 on the third-quarter clock. Play resumed after a 2-hour, 46-minute delay, and the Eagles kept soaring.
 
On a fourth-quarter drive riddled with penalties, Bell completed first-down passes three times when the Eagles were faced with third down and 12 or more yards to go. The senior signal caller competed five passes for 79 yards during the possession, then ended the signature drive with a 3-yard touchdown scamper to give NCCU a 24-7 cushion with nine minutes left in the contest.
 
Bethune-Cookman kept its hopes alive after a 41-yard punt return by Frank Brown pushed the pigskin to the Eagles 15-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, back-up quarterback Larry Brihm, Jr. connected with Brown for a touchdown to pull to within 24-14 with 4:53 on the clock.
 
NCCU responded with a six-play, 61-yard drive, ending with Simpson racing 40 yards into the end zone for the final tally.
 
Up next, NCCU hosts Florida A&M on Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.