DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University had its primetime spotlight stolen by Hampton at McDougald-McLendon Arena as the Eagles fell 86-70 on Monday, Feb. 5.
 
NCCU (12-11, 6-3 MEAC) had its four-game MEAC win streak, and seven-game overall home win streak snapped with the loss.
 
Hampton (10-14, 5-4 MEAC) led NCCU wire-to-wire as the Pirates opened up a 22-9 advantage over the first eight minutes.  Hampton rode that wave to the halftime break as it took a 46-33 lead to the locker room.
 
The Eagles caught fire after the intermission, and went on a 15-7 run over the opening four minutes.  NCCU eventually cut the deficit down to just two points after a tip-in from Larry McKnight, Jr. (North Miami, Fla.) who led the charge for the Eagles with his first double-double at NCCU with 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
The Pirates quickly widened the gap from that moment, and expanded the lead down the stretch on the way to an 86-70 final.
 
Reggie Gardner, Jr. (Bowie, Md.) put in 16 points, and Raasean Davis (Chicago, Ill.) was close to a double-double of his won with 11 points and eight boards.  Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) was the fourth double-digit scorer for NCCU with 14 points, and Pablo Rivas (Colón, Panama) had a solid game with nine points, seven rebounds, and a career-high four blocks.
 
Jermaine Marrow (Newport News, Va.) collected a game-high 25 points with nine points and eight assists for the Pirates, followed by Kalin Fisher (Chicago, Ill.) with 16 points.  Akim Mitchell (Charlotte, N.C.) chipped in 11 points and nine boards, joined by Lysander Bracey (Charlotte, N.C.) also with 11 points.

This is NCCU's largest home loss since a 67-51 defeat to Savannah State on Jan. 31, 2009.
 
NCCU will next head south to Florida A&M on Saturday, Feb. 10.