DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's basketball team hosted a tough Montreat squad inside McDougald-McLendon Arena on Sunday, Nov. 20, but the Eagles were able to come away with an 86-70 win to improve to 2-0 at home.
 
NCCU (2-3) shot 60.0 percent (18-for-30) from the floor in the first half, but MC (2-3) kept pace by shooting nearly 50 percent themselves.  The Cavaliers briefly led by as many as four at 23-19 with 10:14 remaining in the first period, however, the Eagles responded with a 10-0 lead to regain an advantage that they would not relinquish.  NCCU increased the lead to 12 points at the intermission to hold a 48-36 lead at the break, and pushed the cushion out to 16 by the end of the game for an 86-70 victory.
 
The Eagles shot over 50 percent in both periods, and finished with a 56.1 percent success rate from the field.
 
All five Eagle starters scored in double-digits, led by Kris Monroe (Raleigh, N.C.) who picked up the first double-double of the year for the team with 15 points and 13 rebounds.  Marque Maultsby (Raleigh, N.C.) led all scorers with 17 points, and Eric Boone (Lexington, Ky.) nearly assembled just the second triple-double in the Division I era at NCCU with 16 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, and five blocks.  Justin Wright (Greenville, N.C.) put up 15 points with five rebounds, and Brendan Medley-Bacon (Baltimore, Md.) contributed 13 points with four assists.
 
Tyler Murray (Tiverton, R.I.) led the Cavaliers with 15 points, followed by Gabriel Rivera (Orlando, Fla.) with 10 to account for 25 of the 51 points contributed by the MC bench.
 
The Eagles will now prepare to host Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4:00 p.m. inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.