CONWAY, S.C. – North Carolina Central University and Coastal Carolina went back-and-forth in the early part of the contest, but an early run from the Chanticleers gave them separation for a 91-71 win on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the HTC Center.
 
NCCU (3-9) and CCU (7-4) traded the lead four times in the opening stages of the contest, but the Chanticleers strung together a 7-0 run to pull in front of the Eagles, and wouldn't surrender the lead for the rest of the half.  CCU shot 65 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes, and that led to a 43-29 lead for the hosts at the intermission.
 
The Eagles picked up the pace in the second half and shot 48 percent from the floor with four treys, but CCU also shot 50 percent from the field and kept the Eagles at bay for a 91-71 final score.
 
Jibri Blount (Pittsburgh, Pa.) posted 11 of his joint game-high 19 points in the second period as he recorded his second consecutive double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.  Nicolas Fennell (Bowie, Md.) posted his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles as well. 
 
NCCU had a total of four players in double-digits, as Ty Graves (Greensboro, N.C.) posted 13 points, and Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) poured in 11 points with four rebounds, three assists and four steals.
 
CCU was led by DeVante' Jones (New Orleans, La.) as he earned a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists, and Keishawn Brewton (Spartanburg, S.C.) followed with 18 points.  Tyrell Gumbs-Frater (Toronto, Ontario) chipped in 13 points, followed by Garrick Green (Baton Rouge, La.) with 10 points.  Tommy Burton (Montgomery, Ala.) nearly had a double-double of his own with eight points and 10 boards.
 
NCCU will play its final road game of the non-conference schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Louisiana Tech before closing out the calendar year on Dec. 30 against Mid-Atlantic Christian inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.