NORFOLK, Va. - For the second time this year only two points separated North Carolina Central University and Howard University, but this time the scales tipped for the Eagles as they advanced to the quarterfinal round by a final score of 68-66.

The rematch between the two sides was a tight affair in the first 20 minutes with no team able to get ahead by more than four points. The story of the first half was told from 15-feet in as both teams scored 20 points in the painted area.

Kyle Benton (Long Beach, Calif.) was a giant for NCCU (13-19, 7-9 MEAC) as he dropped in 12 points with eight boards in the opening act. Rashaun Madison (Norfolk, Va.) knocked down a couple of three-pointers and registered eight points for the Eagles as well.

Damon Collins (Grand Prairie, Texas) chipped in seven points for Howard (12-20, 6-10 MEAC) and James Daniel (Hampton, Va.) was silent for most of the first half but reached seven points as well. Daniel capped the half on an odd turn of events as he missed the front end of a one-and-one but scooped up the rebound as the Eagle defense was caught unaware and made the score 32-30 at the half in favor of NCCU.

C.J. Wiggins (Richmond, Va.) went on a tear to start the second half as he poured in seven points with a trey just in the first five minutes. Wiggins finished with 11 points and five rebounds for the Eagles. That onslaught helped push NCCU to its largest lead of the game at 51-42 with 12 minutes left.

Wiggins wasn't the only one with big numbers in the second period as Marcel Boyd (Accokeek, Md.) pulled down 11 rebounds to get to 18 and posted a double-double with 16 points next to it. Boyd and Daniel worked in tandem to bring the Bison back into the contest all the way up to a long two from Daniel tied the game at 55 with seven to play. Daniel notched a game-high 22 points and shot 50.0 percent from the floor.

The Eagles then went on an 8-0 run with two threes from Madison, and that was in turn erased by a pair of triples from Daniel to tie the game at 64 with 1:37 left. The teams traded buckets yet again, and with the score knotted at 66, Howard elected to foul sending NCCU to the line. The Eagles made one of the two, and Howard got one more crack at the bucket.

Benton was fouled after pulling in a loose rebound and a made free throw to ice the game for the Eagles, moving NCCU into the quarterfinal round for the fifth-straight year.

Benton finished with his third double-double of the year with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Madison finished with 14 points and four buckets from outside the perimeter. Jeremiah Ingram (Detroit, Mich.) was also a force for the Eagles inside with 10 rebounds and eight points.

Tip-off is tentatively scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night, 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Hampton game against Morgan State. The game will be carried live on the NCCU Sports Network available at NCCUEaglePride.com, and live video can be found on ESPN3.

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