DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's basketball program erased a 24-point deficit – the largest deficit the Eagles have wiped out in the Division I era – to force overtime against Howard, but a late three allowed the Bison to sneak away with a 75-74 decision inside McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday, Jan. 29.
 
NCCU (8-10, 2-1 MEAC) struggled to find its footing in the first half, and Howard (8-9, 2-2 MEAC) capitalized to build up a 24-point advantage in the first 20 minutes.  The Bison shot 51.7 percent from the field in the first period, but NCCU was able to string together successful possessions down the stretch to trim the lead down to 19 at 39-20.
 
The Eagles drew up a game plan to put a spark into the offense during the break, and responded by posting its best second-half shooting performance of the season by shooting 63.0 percent from the field.  Justin Wright (Greenville, N.C.) spearheaded the Eagles with 13 of his team-high 17 points after the intermission, and scored four of the Eagles' final seven points in the last five minutes of regulation.
 
NCCU was able to open up a slim three-point lead with 1:14 remaining, but late free throws from Steve Settle (Glenarden, Md.) and Elijah Hawkins (Washington, D.C.) allowed the Bison to knot the game at 62-62 to force an extra period of action.
 
The Eagles kept up the same offensive intensity in the overtime period by shooting 71.4 percent from the floor, and posted an eight-point gap at 72-64 with 1:31 left.  However, late full-court pressure from the Bison forced the Eagles into crucial turnovers, and that allowed the Bison to creep back into the contest.  The game hung in the balance with time winding down, and Kyle Foster (Hampton, Va.) hit a late three-pointer with two seconds remaining to place the final points in the book for a 75-74 win for Howard.
 
All five starters for NCCU scored 10 points or more, led by Wright with 17 points.  Dontavius King (Greenville, S.C.) pulled down his second double-double of the year with 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Kris Monroe (Raleigh, N.C.) came close to a double-double of his own with 12 points and nine rebounds.  Eric Boone (Lexington, Ky.) filled the stat sheet with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, and five steals, and Randy Miller Jr. (Odenton, Md.) chipped in 16 points for the maroon and gray.
 
Foster finished the contest with a game-best 27 points, and shot 10-for-12 from the floor, and 5-for-6 from the arc, including his final shot.  Settle contributed 17 points, and Hawkins etched in nine points with seven assists and seven steals.
 
NCCU will return home on Monday, Jan. 31 to host Norfolk State at 9:00 p.m. inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.  The game will be televised live on ESPNU, and there will be radio coverage from the NCCU Sports Network.
 
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