DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University once again rallied past a double-digit deficit – this time around it was a 13-point margin in the first half – and surged past North Carolina A&T in the second half on the way to an 86-80 win to capture the 2019-20 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season championship on Thursday, March 5 at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
NCCU (17-13, 13-3 MEAC) scored the first four points of the game, but after that NC A&T (16-15, 12-4 MEAC) pulled in front on a 15-5 run to lead 15-9 after the first six minutes.  The Aggies expanded the lead out to 13 at 27-14 with 11 minutes remaining in the half, but the Eagles refused to give in. 
 
NCCU closed the half on an 11-3 sprint to push into the lead by one at the half at 40-39, and that run was spurred by Nicolas Fennell (Bowie, Md.) who energized the crowd on a steal and jam in the backcourt.  Fennell exploded for 15 points in the first half on his way to a career-high 19 points.
 
The Aggies nabbed the lead right back early in the second period and pulled ahead by seven, 58-61 with 12:32 left.  Over the next six minutes the Eagles dissolved that lead and knotted the game at 65-65 by way of a layup by Jibri Blount (Pittsburgh, Pa.).  NCCU then built an eight-point lead by way of a 10-2 run, and made its free throws down the stretch to seal a dramatic 86-80 win over its rival.
 
Fennell was one of four Eagles to reach double figures, along with Blount who pulled down his 13th double-double of the season with 19 points and a game-high tying 12 rebounds.  C.J. Keyser (Baltimore, Md.) scored a game-high 20 points, and Justin Whatley (Chesapeake, Va.) contributed 10 points with five rebounds.
 
Tyler Maye (Farmville, N.C.) led the Aggies with a team-best 19 points, and Kameron Langley (Greensboro, N.C.) posted a double-double with 18 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds.  Ronald Jackson (Clay County, Fla.) also tied for the game-high in boards with 12 along with nine points, and Tyron Lyons (Amityville, N.Y.) knocked down four three-pointers for 15 points.
 
The Eagles will play on Wednesday, March 11 in the quarterfinal round of the MEAC Tournament at 6:00 p.m. at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia against the winner between eight-seed Delaware State and nine-seed Maryland Eastern Shore.