NCCU survives comeback by Delaware State :: WRALSportsFan.com

Dover, Del. — After falling behind in the second half, the North Carolina Central University men’s basketball team stormed back to win 69-66 at Delaware State University on Monday evening. Sophomore Po’Boigh King and redshirt senior Ja’Darius Harris combined for 43 points leading the Eagles to victory.

NCCU (12-8, 4-1 MEAC) controlled the lead the entire first half with Delaware State keeping pace never falling beyond 10 points. Both teams came into Monday’s contest in a three-way tie with Norfolk State University for first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings.

The Delaware State (10-11, 3-2 MEAC) and MEAC’s leading scorer Martaz Robinson was held to just two points through the first 20 minutes. That would be all he would score the entire game with foul trouble.

The Eagles ended the first half on top 34-25 and for the second straight game, King led in scoring at the half with 11 points. NC Central shot 41.4 percent from the field outscoring the Hornets 14-8 in the paint.

After trading buckets in the first minute of the second half, King’s fast break layup would give NCCU its largest lead of the night with 11 points. DSU would begin to chip away slowly at the lead.

With a 43-38 lead with under 12 minutes remaining, the Eagles wouldn’t score another field goal for close to seven minutes. The Hornets tied the game 43-43 with less than nine minutes left.

Delaware State would take its first lead for the night 45-44 and stretched it to three with a quick steal and layup. Defense and free throws would keep the Eagles in the game helping to come back from down 10 points with 5:42 remaining.

King nailed two shots at the foul line bringing the score to 56-50 as the Eagles still trailed. A three-pointer from junior Devin Gordon brought the lead down to five points. Harris and King made back-to-back threes allowing NCCU back into the lead 61-60.

Delaware State’s Jevin Muniz finished with a game-high 24 points making clutch free throws down the stretch to help the Hornets take another one-point lead but that would be the last time DSU would be ahead.

Harris made three layups after one near turnover, a quick dime from King and an offensive foul drawn by senior Fred Cleveland Jr.

With NCCU leading 68-66, DSU caused a jump ball to regain possession for a chance to tie or take the lead. After a miss by the Hornets, redshirt senior Emmanuel Izunabor grabbed his ninth rebound of the night and was quickly fouled, making one of two shots with 3.6 seconds left.

A half-court heave from DSU’s Muniz wouldn’t drop as the Eagles escaped Dover with a 69-66 victory staying in first place in the conference standings. King finished with 22 points and five rebounds and Harris scored 21 points.

The Eagles will prepare to host Coppin State University on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 4 p.m. at McDougald-McLendon Arena.