ROCK HILL, S.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's basketball team earned its first win of the season on the second day of the Rock Hill Classic defeating the College of William & Mary 78-76. Junior Po'Boigh King and senior Keishon Porter led the Eagles in scoring combining for 36 points.
NC Central (1-4) went back and forth most of the first half with several lead changes. With the game tied after the first media timeout, the William & Mary Tribe took the lead 22-15 with 9:09 remaining in the first half.
Two big threes from Porter and King brought the game within one. The Tribe held onto the lead until 22 seconds were left in the half.
The Eagles were up 37-35 to close the first 20 minutes as Porter led NC Central with 10 points.
NCCU started clicking at the beginning of the second half running different sets leading to scoring opportunities. Junior guard Dionte Johnson, King, Porter and senior wing Timmy Adedire all knocked down shots from beyond the arc as NCCU led 57-49 with 11:26 remaining.
After the Tribe tied the game at 61 with 6:54 remaining, Johnson drained two consecutive threes. King made a three as well a couple of plays later but William & Mary wouldn't go quietly and they started to chip away at the lead.
With 2:26 remaining in the game, William & Mary took a 73-72 lead for the first time since 1:58 left in the first half. King would help the Eagles retake the lead with a jumper. Junior forward Perry Smith Jr. followed that up with a layup making it a three-point game with 33 seconds remaining.
Free throws would determine the outcome of the contest as William & Mary went to the line with 13 seconds left as Kyle Pulliam made two for 76-75 with the Eagles on top.
Senior guard Isaac Parson would be next to head to the line cashing in both free throws and remaining perfect from the line on the season so far as the score changed to 78-75 with NCCU still leading.
Pulliam returned to the line for the Tribe with five seconds on the clock making the first and missing the second as the score would go final 78-76 in favor of NC Central.
King finished with 22 points and Porter had 14 points. Smith Jr. had seven points and seven rebounds.
The Eagles shot 47.4 percent from the field, knocking down ten threes. NCCU went 14-19 from the charity stripe and grabbed seven steals capitalizing on 12 points off turnovers.
The Maroon and Gray will wrap up the Rock Hill Classic on Sunday, Nov. 17 taking on the host Winthrop University at 2:30 p.m. in the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
