DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University knocked down 11 three-pointers with five coming from
Dante Holmes (Baltimore, Md.) as the Eagles picked up their second-straight win with a 79-74 decision over Florida A&M on Monday, Feb. 15 at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
The evening started with a spotless display of shooting on both sides of the floor, as Holmes hit his first three shots including two treys to give NCCU (10-15, 5-6 MEAC) an 8-5 advantage over FAMU (7-17, 3-8 MEAC) over the first five minutes. The Rattlers continued forward to make their first five shots, and both benches combined to make 10 of the first 11 shots of the game.
A triple from
Rashaun Madison (Norfolk, Va.) put the Eagles ahead 11-9 just four minutes into the game, and FAMU would go on to tie four times after that, but would not get back in front of NCCU for the remainder of the contest.
Holmes motored the Eagles ahead in the first 20 minutes with 16 points on his way to a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds for his third career double-double.
NCCU was up by as many as 17 in the second half at 71-54 with 4:51 to go before FAMU strung together a 9-0 run over two minutes of play sparked by Justin Ravenal (Lithonia, Ga.) and Malcolm Bernard (Middleburg, Fla.). Bernard led the Rattlers with 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and Ravenal followed suit with 13 points.
FAMU kept edging closer, getting the margin down to as low as three, but the Eagles persevered to the end.
Kyle Benton (Long Beach, Calif.) knocked in 12 points with four boards, and
Patrick Cole (Newark, N.J.) picked up nine points and five rebounds, and also tied for the game-high with three steals.
Jeremiah Ingram (Detroit, Mich.) had nine points as well, and
C.J. Wiggins (Richmond, Va.) was the third Eagle with nine points, and also added six assists.
NCCU will make up a snow-postponed game at Coppin State on Thursday, Feb. 18 and will stay in Baltimore to take on Morgan State on Saturday, Feb. 20 as originally scheduled.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
