ORANGEBURG, S.C. – For just the third time in program history, North Carolina Central University was pushed into two overtimes, but the Eagles held firm to come away with a dramatic 83-82 win over South Carolina State on Saturday, Feb. 29 at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
 
NCCU (15-13, 11-3 MEAC) outscored SCSU (11-16, 6-9 MEAC) 14-4 over the first 10 minutes of the contest, and made four consecutive field goals during the run.  The Bulldogs were able to find their footing in the first half and pressure the Eagles, but NCCU held firm and took a 33-25 lead to the halftime break.
 
NCCU shot a scorching-hot 59.1 percent from the floor, and went 4-for-8 from the perimeter in the first half.
 
The Eagles started the second period on a 6-0 run over the first three minutes, stamped by a steal and jam by Nicolas Fennell (Bowie, Md.) to take a 41-25 lead.  SCSU then sparked a run, and was able to cut the lead down to just seven with 10 minutes to go, at 48-41.
 
SCSU turned the tables on the Eagles with a 19-5 run after that point to take a 60-53 lead with 3:11 to go.  The Bulldogs were able to narrowly stay ahead of the Eagles down the stretch, but Jibri Blount (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was able to find his way through the paint to knock down a floater with 10 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime, tied 65-65.
 
At the end of the first overtime, NCCU held a three-point lead, but Ian Kinard (Clinton, S.C.) was fouled on a three-point attempt with just a half second remaining, and made all three to send the game to a second overtime, tied 74-74.
 
The second overtime period went back and forth as well, but NCCU was able to forge ahead late, and locked its advantage on free throws from Mike Melvin (Fayetteville, N.C.), and a crucial three-pointer by C.J. Keyser (Baltimore, Md.) to put the Eagles ahead by four.  That was all the breathing room the Eagles needed to finally secure the victory over SCSU, 83-82.
 
Both Blount and Melvin exploded after the halftime break, as they both went to the locker room with just three points.  Blount finished with 20 points, Melvin with 15, and Keyser poured in 17 points as well for the Eagles.
 
SCSU was pushed by a game-high 21 points and six rebounds from Damani Applewhite (Fayetteville, N.C.), and Trushaun Moorer (Summerville, S.C.) followed with 15 points with three made treys.
 
Of note, this was the first double-overtime game played by NCCU since Dec. 5, 1989 at Norfolk State where the Eagles were defeated 58-57, however NCCU is now 2-1 all-time in double-overtime games, with a 68-67 win on the road at Virginia Union on Feb. 1, 1988 in the mix.  The Eagles have also won their last two overtime games, including a 69-64 win over Maryland Eastern Shore earlier this season on the road on Jan. 13.
 
NCCU will finish the season with a pair of games at home against Bethune-Cookman on Monday, March 2, and North Carolina A&T on Thursday, March 5 inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.