Eagles top Tigers to earn win No. 20 on the year
SAVANNAH, Ga. – North Carolina Central University’s Jeremy Ingram rolled up a career-high 38 points as the Eagles led tape-to-tape against Savannah State University to earn win No. 12 in-a-row in the 76-62 victory on Monday night inside Tiger Arena.
The win is significant in that it’s the first inside Tiger Arena after falling short on four previous tries, gives the maroon and gray 20 wins on the year, marking the first back-to-back 20-victory campaign since the 1996-97 season. The win also gives the program 17 20-win seasons in program history.
In the victory, redshirt junior Jay Copeland may have been the most valuable player in the game putting up a double-double 17 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, but he played a huge role in limiting SSU’s Jyles Smith to no points, one rebound, and two blocks in only 15 minutes of action due to foul trouble.
Ingram scored half of the Eagles’ points (38) on the night shooting 10-for-20 from-the-field, including an astounding 16-for-17 from-the-foul-line. The 6-3 guard now has 1,305 career points to place him No. 12 on the all-time list. Ingram was the highest scorer in the nation with his performance against Savannah State.
Senior guard Reggie Groves tied a career-high with five assists, while point guard Emanuel Chapman officially moved to fourth all-time at NCCU with 159 steals in his career.
SSU (9-17, 7-5 MEAC) was led by Deven Williams’ 18 points in 16 minutes of action, while Joshua Montgomery ended the night with 11 points, and Kierre Richards contributed 10 points in the loss.
NCCU (20-5, 11-1 MEAC) outscored Savannah State 32-to-24 in-the-paint, outrebounded the Tigers 35-to-27, and held them to just 36 percent shooting (9-for-25) in the second half. The maroon and gray were a ridiculous 35-for-41 (85.4 percent) from the line in the win.
The Eagles will have a few days to rest before they head to the Gate City in search of their fifth straight road win to face arch-rival North Carolina A&T at 6:00 p.m. from the Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, N.C.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.ssusathletics.com
Rattlers holds off Delaware State for 68-63 win
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida A&M Men’s Basketball team won their second straight with a 68-63 win over Delaware State, here Monday night at the Al Lawson Center in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Contest.
FAMU (10-16, 6-7 MEAC) was paced by Jamie Adams with a team high 19 points, followed by Reggie Lewis with nine and both Jomari Bradshaw and Trey Kellum with eight points each. Lewis led the Rattlers on the boards with six, while Adams dished out a team high six assists.
DSU (7-18, 3-9 MEAC) was paced by DeAndre Haywood with a game high 20 to lead all scorers. Kendall Gray finished the contest with a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Tyshawn Bell added 13.
FAMU will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 22 to Daytona Beach, Fla., to take on arch rival Bethune-Cookman at the Ocean Center in a 4 p.m. start.
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com or www.dsuhornets.com
Bears too strong in paint as Hawks fall
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team was no match for Morgan State in the paint on Monday night as the Hawks were defeated by the Bears, 88-72, at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.
UMES' 72 points in the game was sparked by a 50-point second-half, where the Hawks notched 70 points against the Bears for just the third time in the past 11 meetings. UMES has now lost three straight to Morgan State and is now 1-1 in its current three-game homestand.
The Bears capitalized on several noteworthy Hawk injuries as senior Francis Ezieru and freshman Hakeem Baxter each checked out of the game early with injuries. MSU proved to be strong in the low post as they controlled the game from start to finish. UMES was hurt by a 17-0 MSU run late in the first half. Freshman Devon Walker kept UMES alive with a career-high 22 points.
With the decision, UMES falls to 4-19, 2-9 MEAC, while Morgan State goes to 10-13, 8-3 MEAC.
Devon Walker was 5-for-8 from long-range to tally his career-high in points. The lefty also dished out a team-high three assists in 31 minutes. Senior Troy Snyder had 21 points and six boards, while senior Louis Bell had 12 points with two long-range makes. The Hawks shot 55-percent in the second to tally 50 points in the final frame.
Morgan State saw its big men run post several impressive lines. Cedric Blossom had 20 points and 11 boards to notch the double-double. Justin Black scored 24 points and was 9-for-9 from the line, while Ian Chiles had 22 points and three blocks. MSU dished out 17 assists in the game and made 18-of-21 shots from the charity stripe.
The Hawks close out their second three-game homestand of the month against New Jersey Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. The game is the final non-conference match for UMES of the 2013-14 season.