DURHAM, N.C. – With the advantage most of the second half, the North Carolina Central University men's basketball team couldn't hold the lead late falling to Radford University 70-67 on Thursday evening in McDougald-McLendon Arena. Junior forward Perry Smith Jr. led all scorers with 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
NCCU (3-7) came into the game on a two-game winning streak and led the majority of the battle.
The Eagles found themselves in a 9-0 hole to start the contest. Head coach LeVelle Moton called a quick timeout to talk things over. NC Central began to fight back and found themselves down by only one-point with 5:43 remaining in the half.
Senior guard Keishon Porter's and-one layup gave NCCU its first lead with 5:15 remaining. The Highlanders would tie the contest up two times before NC Central took back the lead at the end of the half.
The Eagles led 31-24 to close out the first half. Porter was the only player in double-figures through the first 20 minutes. NC Central shot 40.7 percent (11-of-27) from the field and caused 10 turnovers.
Smith Jr. opened the second half on an 8-2 run by himself after going scoreless in the first half. Junior guard Po'Boigh King's second chance layup extended the lead 41-26 before the 16-minute media timeout.
Radford wouldn't go away shaving the lead to single digits with 12:30 remaining as the score would remain close the remainder of the night.
Smith Jr. made a contested layup to keep the Eagles ahead until Radford's Jarvis Moss tied the game with a three-pointer at 61 a piece with 3:25 left. After the Highlanders took the lead for the first time since the first half, a three from junior guard Dionte Johnson tied the game once again at 64-64.
After a quick bucket from Radford, Smith Jr. tied the game once again at 66-66. A tough foul was called on Johnson with 21 seconds remaining close to the halfcourt line and Radford's Ibu Yamazaki cashed in both free throws.
The game would come to an end after the Eagles were unable to secure the rebound on a free throw miss by Johnson as Radford would go on to win 70-67.
NC Central ended the night shooting 44 percent from the field. Porter, Johnson and King each finished in double figures alongside Smith Jr.
Radford's Josiah Harris led the Highlanders in scoring with 16 points and also grabbed 16 rebounds.
The Maroon and Gray have a short turnaround as the team heads to Gardner-Webb University on Saturday, Dec. 7 to complete their home-and-home series against the Runnin' Bulldogs at 2 p.m.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
