Box Score DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's basketball program gave a fitting sendoff to its two seniors, as the Eagles picked up a 67-62 victory over South Carolina State on Thursday, March 3 inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
Prior to the game, NCCU (15-14, 8-5 MEAC) recognized both Nicolas Fennell (Bowie, Md.) and Randy Miller Jr. (Odenton, Md.) as they played their final game at home.  Combined, the two players accounted for 161 games played, 114 games started, and 1,297 points scored.
 
The first half went back and forth as both NCCU and SCSU (15-15, 7-7 MEAC) traded runs.  The game was tied three times, and the lead changed hands five times in the first 20 minutes.  The Bulldogs were able to find a way to grab the lead with 6:30 left in the period, and turned that into an eight-point advantage at the break, 33-25.
 
Although tonight's game was focused on the seniors, two underclassmen took the spotlight as both TJ Madlock (Memphis, Tenn.) and Justin Wright (Greenville, N.C.) powered their two teams.
 
It didn't take long for the Eagles to regain the lead in the second half, as Wright hit a three from the left wing to put NCCU up by one, just over five minutes into the period.  Wright followed that up with two more treys to hit three consecutive triples in just over a minute on the floor, and that gave the Eagles some breathing room at 47-42 with 13:22 left.  The Bulldogs were able to draw within one with 12 minutes left to go, but the Eagles never relinquished the lead on the way to a 67-62 win.
 
NCCU outscored SCSU, 42-29, in the second half, and shot a stellar 61.5 percent from the field.
 
Wright scored all of his game-high 24 points in the second half, and knocked down a total of eight field goals.  Eric Boone (Lexington, Ky.) recorded his first double-double of the year with a season-best 12 rebounds with 12 points, and Kris Monroe (Raleigh, N.C.) came close to a double-double of his own with 10 points and eight boards.  Cameron Butler (Chicago, Ill.) entered the starting lineup for the first time since Dec. 9, and collected nine points with five caroms.
 
Madlock finished with a team-high 23 points for SCSU with four treys, followed by Rahsaan Edwards (Charles Town, W. Va.) with 13 points.
 
With the win, the Eagles will enter the MEAC Tournament as the third seed, and will face sixth-seeded Maryland Eastern Shore on Thursday, March 10.
 
For more information on the MEAC Tournament, visit MEACHoops.com.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics App.