ROCK HILL, S.C. – In the final game of the Rock Hill Classic, the North Carolina Central University men's basketball team fell 77-75 to the tournament host Winthrop University on Sunday afternoon. Junior guard Po'Boigh King had another efficient performance with a team-high 18 points.

NCCU (1-5) went into Sunday's game hoping to carry over momentum from Saturday's victory over William & Mary. This was the second game this weekend where NCCU faced another Eagles team.

The first half consisted of four ties and the lead didn't stretch more than seven points as NCCU went on a 12-0 run with 12:25 remaining with threes from King, layups from senior Isaac Parson and junior Jaqai Murray and a jumper from senior Floyd Rideau Jr. bringing the lead to 19-12 in NC Central's favor forcing a Winthrop timeout.

Winthrop regained the lead with 3:20 left in the half until 2:28 remained as NCCU went into the half with a 40-39 lead. King led all scorers with 12 points.

Junior guard Dionte Johnson scored the first two buckets for the NCCU Eagles and senior wing Timmy Adedire drained a three bringing the score to 50-49 after the 16-minute media timeout.

Both teams continued to trade buckets until the game started getting chippy as four technical fouls were issued, two per team. NC Central was up by as much as six points at the 5:10 mark.

Winthrop took a 73-71 lead for the first time since the nine-minute mark of the second half with 2:17 remaining and held onto it the rest of the way defeating the NCCU Eagles 77-75. WU's Kelton Talford had a game-high 22 points.

Johnson (15), Rideau Jr. (10) and Murray (12) each finished in double figures alongside King. Murray grabbed six rebounds and Adedire and Parson each had four assists.

The Maroon and Gray will have five days to regroup as they head to Atlanta, Ga. to play Georgia State University on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. in the GSU Convocation Center.

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