CHARLESTON, S.C. – North Carolina Central University closed the first half on a 9-4 run, but the Eagles were unable to surmount the first-half deficit, as The Citadel came away with an 80-67 win at McAllister Fieldhouse on Monday, Dec. 6.
 
The Citadel (5-3) made its first three treys, and opened up an early advantage that it would hold for the entire contest.  NCCU (3-7) was able to stay in the contest by getting to the free throw line 11 times, and the Eagles converted on eight of those attempts.  Randy Miller Jr. (Odenton, Md.) went 5-for-5 from the charity stripe in the first period for NCCU.
 
The Eagles closed the first 20 minutes by making their final three shots, plus a free throw, to go on a 9-4 run, and that brought the lead down to 10 at 42-32.
 
NCCU caught fire in the second half, and shot 53.3 percent from the field.  The Eagles rattled off a 9-0 run midway through the half, and cut the lead down to seven after a triple from Kris Monroe (Raleigh, N.C.), but that would be as close as the Eagles would get.
 
Dontavius King (Greenville, S.C.) dropped in 12 of his team-high 16 points in the second half, and pulled down the first double-double of the year for the Eagles with 10 boards during the contest.  Justin Wright (Greenville, N.C.) had one of the best games of his career with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals.  Miller finished with 11 points and five boards, and Monroe recorded 12 points.
 
The Citadel was led by Hayden Brown (Greer, S.C.) who notched a game-high 32 points, and Jason Roche (Berkeley, Calif.) followed with 15 points and eight caroms.
 
The Eagles will return home on Thursday, Dec. 9 to host Carver.