MONTGOMERY, Ala. – North Carolina Central University mounted a late surge in regulation before a bucket in the final seconds from Alabama State sent the game to overtime, but the extra period belonged to the Hornets as they came away with an 80-74 win on Saturday, Nov. 20 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
 
NCCU (0-5) used a balanced scoring attack in the first half, as nine different Eagles recorded a point, led by six from Justin Wright (Greenville, N.C.).  The Eagles knocked down three treys, and took a 34-30 lead to the break over ASU (1-5).
 
The Hornets turned the tables on the Eagles in the second half as they rattled of a 10-0 run, and took an eight-point lead with 14 minutes remaining.  ASU led for over 16 minutes in the second frame, but a late charge from NCCU, led by Randy Miller Jr. (Odenton, Md.) allowed the Eagles to take a slim lead with just over a minute remaining.  Miller collected 18 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, and he hit a free throw to put the Eagles up by two with 15 seconds left.  Gerald Liddell (Cibolo, Texas) was able to drive into the paint for a layup with six seconds remaining for ASU to send the game to overtime.
 
ASU outscored the Eagles 12-6 in the appended frame, and the difference was at the free throw line as the Hornets made five of six attempts on the way to a dramatic 80-74 victory.
 
Miller led all scorers with his 23 points for NCCU, and Eric Boone (Lexington, Ky.) dished out a game-high five assists with eight points and two steals.
 
ASU had a pair of double-doubles from Liddell with 22 points and 11 boards, and Jordan O'Neal (Mobile, Ala.) worked in tandem with 19 points and 14 caroms.  Liddell also added four assists and four steals to his stat line.
 
NCCU will finally prepare for its first home game of the season, as Warren Wilson will come to McDougald-McLendon Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 7:00 p.m.