LAKE CHARLES, La. – The last time North Carolina Central University and McNeese met, the Eagles came back from an 11-point deficit and closed the game on a 10-2 run to win, 67-66.  This time, the Cowboys overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat the Eagles, 77-61, on Thursday, Dec. 13 at the H&HP Complex.
 
The second matchup between NCCU (4-7) and McNeese (3-6) followed a similar script as the first meeting back in Durham, as both teams engaged in a closely contested match.  However, in the second half the Cowboys turned the tables on the Eagles as they mounted a 29-6 run over a nine-minute stretch in the second half to turn a 10-point deficit into a victory.
 
The Eagles held a 30-24 lead at the half with help from six points by way of Jibri Blount (Pittsburgh, Pa.) but the advantage was no problem for the hosts.  James Harvey (Amite, La.) led all scorers with 19 points for McNeese, and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe.
 
Raasean Davis (Chicago, Ill.) once again led the Eagles in scoring with 12 points, and Blount finished with 11 in his maroon and gray debut.  Zacarry Douglas (Landover, Md.) had a full game with six points and a team-high seven rebounds, and Julian Walters (Madison, Wis.) dished out a game-high six assists.  Larry McKnight Jr. (North Miami, Fla.) was the fourth Eagle to reach double-figures as he tallied 10 points in the contest.
 
Malik Hines (Jackson, Miss.) finished his night with 15 points and six rebounds for the Cowboys, and Roydell Brown (New Orleans, La.) notched a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
 
NCCU continues the four-game road trek on Sunday, Dec. 16 at Coastal Carolina.