DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University gave a resounding farewell to 2019 with a 108-63 win over Mid-Atlantic Christian University on Monday, Dec. 30 inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
With the win, NCCU (4-10) has now won 10 consecutive home non-conference games.
 
NCCU found success inside early against MACU (4-7), as the Eagles outscored the Mustangs 38-8 in the paint in the first half.  Keeping the ball inside also benefited Jibri Blount (Pittsburgh, Pa.) as he tallied 19 points in the first period.
 
While the Eagles were doing their work inside, the Mustangs were hot from the perimeter, as the guests made 12 triples in the contest, led by Kevin Fletcher (Detroit, Mich.) who knocked down four.
 
NCCU stuck with what worked for the entire game, and posted a 108-63 victory to close the calendar year, with a total of 80 points scored in the paint.
 
Blount notched a new career-high with 33 points in the game, along with six rebounds, three assists and four steals.  Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) dished out nine assists with eight points to reach a new career mark himself, as he now stands alone with the third-most assists all-time at NCCU with 372, passing Bryan Ayala with 366.
 
The entire starting five for the Eagles all reached double-digits, led by Evan Clayborne (Dayton, Ohio) registered 14 points with eight boards, and Nicolas Fennell (Bowie, Md.) collected 12 points along with seven rebounds and six assists.
 
Fletcher finished with a team-best 24 points and six caroms for MACU, and Norris Gardner (Norfolk, Va.) contributed 15 points with four rebounds.
 
The Eagles will now prepare for Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, and that will begin on Saturday, Jan. 4 against Florida A&M inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.