ST. LOUIS – North Carolina Central University held a lead at the break and went up by as many as 11 in the second half, but the Eagles were bitten by the turnover bug and that helped Saint Louis to pull away with a 74-65 final score at Chaifetz Arena.
 
NCCU (4-9) led the majority of the first half over SLU (8-3) as the maroon and gray shot a great 60.9 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent from downtown.  The Eagles were able to extend their lead by as many as nine during the first 20 minutes with help from holding the Billikens scoreless for 3:52 at one point, and a 7-0 run over another stretch of time.
 
Zacarry Douglas (Bowie, Md.) got off to a hot start as he collected nine points for the Eagles as he went 4-for-6 from the floor, and Randy Miller Jr. (Odenton, Md.) was on target from distance as he knocked down a pair of treys to total eight points at the intermission as the Eagles led 36-31.
 
The Eagles started the second half on a quick 6-0 run, but the Billikens responded in kind after a pair of steals with a 6-0 run of their own as they pulled the game back to the five-point deficit that existed at the half.  SLU kept that momentum going as they pulled ahead for the first time since the 10:52 mark in the first half with help of a 24-2 run.
 
NCCU found a way to string together another run of their own with the help of a couple steals, and rattled off an 8-0 run to pull within seven at 61-54 with 6:56 remaining after trailing by as many as 15.  However, 15 second-half turnovers and a total of 24 proved too much to counteract as SLU held off the Eagles for a 74-65 final score.
 
Douglas flirted with a triple-double as he finished with nine points, nine rebounds and six assists.  Raasean Davis (Chicago, Ill.) and Miller both finished with a joint team-high 12 points.
 
Javon Bess (Columbus, Ohio) put up a game-high 19 points as he collected six points and six assists as well.   Jordan Goodwin (Centreville, Ill.) followed suit with 16 points, five assists and six steals for the Billikens.
 
The Eagles will finally get off the road and rest, as they won't play again until Dec. 30 against Wilberforce at home at McDouagld-McLendon Arena.