PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – North Carolina Central men's basketball turned defense into offense Monday night, forcing 23 turnovers that led to 29 points as the Eagles defeated Maryland Eastern Shore, 77-73, at the Hytche Center.
NCCU (12-16, 8-5 MEAC) started slowly on the offensive end but surged in the second half, dominating at the free-throw line by hitting 19-of-25 attempts after halftime. Gage Lattimore knocked down 12 free throws on his way to a game-high 23 points and added six assists. Kelechi Okworogwo (12 points), Kyric Davis (14) and Dionte Johnson (15) also scored in double figures.
UMES (9-21, 5-8 MEAC) led for much of the contest, but the Eagles stayed within striking distance. The game featured five ties and six lead changes.
The Hawks controlled the glass early, outrebounding NCCU 22-8 in the first half, a trend that continued as UMES finished with a 44-20 rebounding advantage. Maryland Eastern Shore shot 54.2 percent from the field before halftime and built an 11-point lead with less than five minutes remaining in the half before taking a 30-23 advantage into the break.
NCCU chipped away in the second half, though the Hawks briefly pushed their lead back to double digits with 12:43 remaining. Trailing 47-39, Lattimore sparked an 8-2 run by himself, pulling the Eagles within 49-47 at the under-eight media timeout.
The momentum carried over as NC Central reclaimed the lead for the first time since the 10:08 mark of the first half. With 6:05 remaining, the Eagles moved in front for good. NCCU shot 60.9 percent in the second half, including 7-of-12 from beyond the arc, and outscored the Hawks 54-43 over the final 20 minutes.
Zion Obanla paced the Hawks with 18 points and 12 rebounds. UMES held a 17-7 edge in second-chance points and a 34-20 advantage in points in the paint.
The Eagles close out their regular season on Thursday, March 5, when South Carolina State visits McDougald-McLendon Arena. The home finale will air live on ESPNU, with tipoff set for 5 p.m.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
