DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University's men's basketball program met rival North Carolina A&T on Wednesday, Feb. 24 inside McDougald-McLendon Arena, and the visiting Aggies came away with a 79-63 win.
The first half played true to its billing of a rivalry game as both NCCU (4-6, 2-3 MEAC) and NCAT (10-10, 6-1 MEAC) played a physical and hard-nosed style of basketball. Both teams held the lead during the first 20 minutes, and the Aggies built up a 10-point lead at one point.
NCAT took advantage at the free throw line as it made 14 of its 19 attempts in the first half, compared to seven makes in nine attempts for NCCU. The Eagles drained five three-pointers in the period, and were able to trim the gap to 37-34, at the break.
NCAT continued to get to the free throw line in the second half, and the Aggies made a total of 25 free throws on 31 attempts, while the Eagles made 16 of 22 from the charity stripe in the contest. The Aggies used those free throws to help push their way to a 79-63 final score.
Deven Palmer (Hyde Park, Mass.) scored a game-high 19 points with seven rebounds, and
C.J. Keyser (Baltimore, Md.) also reached double-digits with 11 points.
Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) filled the stat sheet with six points, seven assists, and a game-high nine rebounds.
Tyrone Lyons (Amityville, N.Y.) scored a joint team-high 15 points for NCAT with seven rebounds, and Kwe Parker (Fayetteville, N.C.) joined him with 15 points as well. Webster Filmore (Charlotte, N.C.) collected a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Prior to the game, the NCCU men's basketball program recognized seven seniors:
Kobby Ayetey (Accra, Ghana),
Ty Graves (Greensboro, North Carolina),
C.J. Keyser,
Jahnathan Maxwell (Virginia Beach, Va.),
Mike Melvin (Fayetteville, N.C.),
Deven Palmer, and
Jordan Perkins. The program also recognized two senior managers: Chris Daniels (High Point, N.C.), and Russhion Jones (Enfield, N.C.).
The Eagles and Aggies will meet again on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Corbett Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
