DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University held Florida A&M without a field goal for the final 8:37 in a tied game to earn a 61-45 win over the Rattlers to open up Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 4 inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
NCCU (5-10, 1-0 MEAC) and FAMU (2-10, 0-1 MEAC) played a close first half, as the lead changed hands five separate times.  Deven Palmer (Hyde Park, Mass.) nailed three treys for 11 points to power the Eagles in the first period of play, but both sides went to the locker room even at 28 after the first 20 minutes.
 
The Rattlers kept the Eagles close in the second half as well, as FAMU knotted the game twice after trailing by as many as six.  A layup from FAMU tied the game at 45 with 8:37 remaining.  From that point on, NCCU denied FAMU all opportunities at the basket, and went on a 16-0 run for the remainder of the contest.  NCCU forced FAMU into seven turnovers during the run, and the Rattlers were 0-6 from the floor.
 
Jibri Blount (Pittsburgh, Pa.) went over 20 points for the sixth time this season as he scored a game-high 23 with 11 rebounds as well for his fifth double-double of the year as well.  Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) followed with 15 points along with a game-high eight assists and three steals.  Of note, all eight Eagles that entered the contest accounted for at least one field goal in the contest.
 
Rod Melton Jr. (Dothan, Ala.) put up a team-best 18 points for FAMU, and M.J. Randolph (Pensacola, Fla.) contributed 18 points for the guests.  D.J. Jones (Brusly, La.) pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds with nine points as well.
 
NCCU will now spend the next 21 days away from McDougald-McLendon Arena, starting on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Delaware State.