CONWAY, S.C. – North Carolina Central University and Coastal Carolina battled hard down the stretch, but a late surge by the Chanticleers helped to push the hosts to a 78-71 decision on Monday, Dec. 7 at The HTC Center.
 
NCCU (1-2) bolted out of the gate and posted an 11-2 lead over CCU (3-0) in the first four minutes of the contest with the help of five turnovers from the Chanticleers.  The Eagles forced CCU into 11 giveaways in the first half, but a pair of scoring runs helped the hosts move in front and secure a 38-32 lead at the break.
 
C.J. Keyser (Baltimore, Md.) fueled the Eagles with 11 points in the first period, and he kept that energy going in the second half as well. Keyser and Nehemie Kabeya (Ngaliema, DR Congo) worked together to start the second half on a 6-0 run in the first two minutes to knot the game at 38 after the intermission.
 
The Eagles shot 48.1 percent from the field in the second half, and held a 71-70 lead with just over a minute remaining.  That advantage was built with help from a rapid-fire six points from Jahnathan Maxwell (Virginia Beach, Va.) in just over 60 seconds of work in the waning moments of the contest in his season debut.
 
However, CCU rattled off an 8-0 run in the final 1:16 to close the game, and hold on for a 78-71 decision.
 
Keyser poured in a joint game-high 19 points for the Eagles in his first start in maroon and gray, followed by Maxwell with 13.  Deven Palmer (Hyde Park, Mass.) added 10 points with six rebounds, and Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) contributed 10 points, four boards, and six assists.
 
CCU also had four players reach double-digits, led by DeVante' Jones (New Orleans, La.) with a game-high tying 19 points and nine boards, and both Tyrik Dixon (Bentonville, Ark.) and Deanthony Tipler (Ashland, Miss.) added 16 points.  Ebrima Dibba (Bredang, Sweden) chimed in with 10 points and seven assists.
 
The Eagles are scheduled to visit Vanderbilt next on Friday, Dec. 11.