TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – North Carolina Central University's men's basketball team put together a few runs in the second half, but the Eagles couldn't close the gap with Florida A&M University as the Rattlers took the two-game series by a score of 60-47, on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at the Al Lawson Center.
 
NCCU (4-5, 2-2 MEAC) got off to a better start this time around, and built up a 27-20 lead over FAMU (4-8, 3-2 MEAC) with two minutes remaining in the first half.  The Rattlers went on to finish the period with a 6-0 run, and cut the Eagles' advantage down to one, 27-26, at the midway point.
 
FAMU rode that momentum into the second half, and held off each of the Eagles' attempts to trim the deficit on the way to a 60-47 final score to take the series.
 
C.J. Keyser (Baltimore, Md.) scored a game-high 19 points along with a team-high seven boards for the Eagles, and Deven Palmer (Hyde Park, Mass.) contributed 15 points for the maroon and gray.
 
MJ Randolph (Pensacola, Fla.) turned in a team-best 14 points with six rebounds for FAMU, and Bryce Moragne (Tampa, Fla.) collected a game-high eight rebounds and eight points.
 
NCCU is not scheduled to play again until Feb. 20 and 21 on the road at South Carolina State.