DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University found itself in comfortable surroundings back home at McDougald-McLendon Arena after spending three games on the road, and posted a big 78-53 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday, Feb. 9.
 
NCCU (11-13, 6-4 MEAC) got off to a blistering start as it shot 63 percent in the first half and knocked down eight three-pointers, with three of those coming from Zacarry Douglas (Landover, Md.).  MDES (4-22, 2-9 MEAC) was hot as well, as the Hawks shot 60 percent from the field, but the Eagles were able to carry a 44-30 lead to the intermission.
 
The Eagles continued their hot streak after the break as they shot 50 percent from the floor in the second period, to finish at 57.1 percent in the contest.  That field goal percentage registers as the fourth-highest achieved by the Eagles this season, and the highest in league play in the 2018-19 campaign.  NCCU held the Hawks to just 33.3 percent from the floor in the second to help close out a 78-53 victory.
 
The Eagles' margin of victory of 25 points is the second-largest in MEAC play this year, behind the 28-point victory over Morgan State, 92-64 on Jan. 21.
 
Raasean Davis (Chicago, Ill.) picked up his 10th double-double of the year and his 21st in his career as an Eagle, as he reached game-highs with 21 points and 11 rebounds.  Douglas finished with 15 points and shot 6-for-7 from the floor, and Jibri Blount (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had a strong effort with 12 points and five rebounds.
 
Larry McKnight Jr. (North Miami, Fla.) was the fourth Eagle to reach double-digits as he finished with 13 points, and Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) dished out a game-high 10 assists, which was also a new season-high for him.  Perkins also reached a new career-high as we swiped away a game-high four steals.
 
Ryan Andino (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) knocked down three treys for the Hawks and finished with a team high 13 points, and he was helped by Gabriel Gyamfi (Brampton, Canada) who put in 10 points and five rebounds.  Bryan Urrutia (Chihuahua, Mexico) had a full game with 10 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
 
NCCU will take the floor again at home on Monday, Feb. 11 against Delaware State at 7:30 p.m. following the women's basketball contest.