BOONE, N.C. – North Carolina Central University and Appalachian State traded blows early in the second half, but the Mountaineers were able to pull away, and then keep the Eagles at bay for an 82-73 win at the Holmes Center on Saturday, Dec. 8.
 
NCCU (4-6) scored first in the contest and held the lead over App State (4-5) for the majority of the half, leading for a total of 14:35 in the first 20 minutes.  The Mountaineers finally got ahead at the 3:08 mark in the first half, and after a back-and-forth close the period App State took a 38-36 lead over the Eagles at the break.  Joseph Battle (Abbevile, S.C.) was a difference-maker for the Mountaineers in the first half as he finished the period with 13 points by going a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line and 2-for-2 from the floor.
 
The Eagles started the second half in a blaze of fire, igniting a 9-2 run to take a 45-40 lead over the first three minutes.  Adrian Delph (Kings Mountain, N.C.) took over in response as he exploded for eight points within the first six minutes to help the Mountaineers back in front.
 
NCCU trailed by as many as 18 in the second half, but were able to get to within seven in the final two minutes of the contest.  However, the Eagles' run came up just a bit short as App State was able to hold on for an 82-73 final score.
 
Raasean Davis (Chicago, Ill.) finished with a game-high 21 points for the Eagles with six rebounds, and Zacarry Douglas pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds with seven points.  Larry McKnight Jr. (North Miami, Fla.) contributed 17 points with 120 coming after the intermission, and Reggie Gardner Jr. (Bowie, Md.) was the third Eagle in double-digits with 10 points.
 
App State had five players in double-digits as Battle finished a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor and missed just one free throw to finish 10-for-11 from the line for a team-high 18 points for the Mountaineers.  O'Showen Williams (Macon, Ga.) hit three treys in the second half and finished with 13 points, all coming after the break, and Ronshad Shabazz (Raleigh, N.C.) contributed 12 points.  Tyrell Johnson (Atlanta, Ga.) and Delph rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Mountaineers with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
NCCU will now have some time to rest before hitting the road again to McNeese State on Dec. 13.