DURHAM, N.C. – After a slow-going first half of play, North Carolina Central University picked up the pace in the second half to pull away from Delaware State for a 72-45 win inside McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday, Jan. 25.
 
Jibri Blount (Pittsburgh, Pa.) started the scoring for NCCU (8-12, 4-2 MEAC) and really set the tone for the game as he scored the first six points of the contest.  Those six points put the Eagles ahead of DSU (2-16, 1-3 MEAC) and the hosts never looked back as they led the Hornets wire-to-wire.  Blount picked up 17 points in the first 20 minutes, and nearly outscored the Hornets himself as the Eagles took a 27-20 lead to the break.
 
The Eagles put together a 20-4 run in the second half and outscored the Hornets 45-25 after the intermission to sprint away with a 72-45 victory.  Blount recorded his third consecutive double-double, and his fifth in the last six games as he tied his career-high with 33 points, and tacked on 10 rebounds and five steals.  Evan Clayborne (Dayton, Ohio) helped to protect the paint with 12 points and six rebounds, and Deven Palmer (Hyde Park, Mass.) was the third Eagle in double-digits with 11 points.
 
DSU's top scorer was Ameer Bennett (Richmond, Va.) with 13 points, and John Crosby (Baltimore, Md.) collected 11 points, five assists and six rebounds for the Hornets.
 
The Eagles have now won 10 consecutive games inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.  The Eagles will be back at home on Saturday, Feb. 1 against South Carolina State at 4:00 p.m. following the women's game at 2:00 p.m.