GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina Central University saw a second-half lead slip away as North Carolina A&T rallied to defeat the Eagles, 70-64 at the Corbett Center on Saturday, Jan. 27.
 
NCCU (11-10, 5-2 MEAC) and NC A&T (13-9, 6-1 MEAC) played almost identical first halves statistically, and went to the break even at 28 points apiece after a fall away jumper at the buzzer from Raekwon Harney (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
 
Pablo Rivas (Colón, Panama) powered the Eagles ahead in the first half with 11 points and five rebounds as both the Eagles and Aggies made 11 field goals, two three pointers and four free throws in the first 20 minutes.
 
NCCU kicked it into high gear to start the second half, as the maroon and gray went on a 20-3 run over the first six-and-a-half minutes to open up a 48-31 advantage.  From that point on, the Aggies chipped away at the deficit and eventually pulled ahead with four minutes to go, motored by 15 second-half points from Denzel Keyes (Kinston, N.C.) on the way to a game-high 20.
 
Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) hit a clutch three-pointer on the move late in the game to try to help the Eagles make a comeback, but the Aggies were able to withstand the late push for a 70-64 final.
 
Raasean Davis (Chicago, Ill.) had a team-high 15 points with six rebounds, and both Rivas and Reggie Gardner, Jr. (Bowie, Md.) contributed 13 points, with Rivas adding a team-high eight rebounds.  Perkins was friendly with the basketball, serving up a game-high seven assists with nine points and four rebounds as well.  Larry McKnight, Jr. (North Miami, Fla.) swiped a career-high four steals as well with eight points.
 
Kameron Langley (Greensboro, N.C.) had 13 points for the Aggies, and Devonte Boykins (Forest City, N.C.) also finished in double-digits with 11 points.  Femi Olujobi (Long Island, N.Y.) had a game-high nine rebounds with seven points.
 
The Eagles are now off until next Saturday, Feb. 3 when Delaware State comes to visit McDougald-McLendon Arena.