Down but not out, NCCU comes back and knocks off Norfolk State
N.C. Central needed a character win.
Facing 6-1 Norfolk State, NCCU coach LeVelle Moton was going to learn a lot about his team. The Eagles showed their coach exactly what they were made of.
NCCU trailed the Spartans by double-digits with 9:05 remaining, but showed heart and tenacity the rest of the way. The Eagles went on a 16-0 run and knocked off NSU, 69-63, Monday night at McDougald-McLendon Arena in Durham.
NCCU (9-12, 6-2 MEAC) has won five of its last six against the Spartans, including the last two. The Eagles beat NSU last year in the MEAC Tournament final after falling to them in overtime in the regular season.
The Spartans, who dropped their first MEAC game of the season at A&T on Saturday, led by 13 with 13:06 left in the game. NCCU cut it to 10, 59-49, and that’s when the Eagles took over the momentum.
Trailing at the half
The Eagles held the Spartans (10-12, 6-2) scoreless for 8:16, and went on an impressive run to take a six-point lead with less than three minutes remaining. This was the first time this season NCCU won a game when it trailed at the half, and the first time it has won when down with five minutes remaining.
Last year in the conference title game, the Eagles were down 12 in the second half and came back for the win.
“We knew once we got down 13, we just had to lock up,” Moton said Monday. “That’s the staple of this program. Our crowd got into it and our guys developed some confidence. And I thought we eventually wore them down.”
The Spartans scored a quick eight to start the second half, and took their biggest lead, 51-36, at the 15:12 mark. Down but not out, the Eagles got some life from the home crowd and pulled to within four after a layup from junior guard Jordan Perkins. The Spartans turned the ball over on the next possession. Then redshirt junior guard C.J. Keyser made a pair of free throws to pull the Eagles within two.
With 6:02 remaining, Eagles junior guard Deven Palmer missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Eagles’ defense bailed him out with a stop, but redshirt senior forward Jibri Blount missed a three that would have given NCCU its first lead.
Again, the defense came through, and forced a shot clock violation, but the Eagles turned the ball back over to NSU with 4:20 left. But Norfolk State turned the ball back over with another shot clock violation.
The Eagles tied the game at 59 when Palmer drove to the basket for a layup. NCCU took its first lead moments later when Blount stole the ball at halfcourt and made a layup and drew a foul. He completed the three-point play to put the Eagles up by three with 2:29 remaining.
Scoring double figures
Keyser led the Eagles and tied his career-high with 23 points. He was one of four NCCU players to reach double figures. Palmer (13), Blount (12) and Justin Whatley (10) also scored at least 10.
Devante Carter led the Spartans with 14 points but fouled out late in the game.
The win could help the Eagles find their identity.
“It’s huge for them, because they need that,” Moton said. “They are following the success of others. They need that as a team. We all need individual, singular accomplishments and tonight maybe can be a feather in the cap.”
Rival North Carolina A&T is the only team ahead of the Eagles in the standings. A&T is 7-1 in the MEAC.
“This meant a lot,” Moton said. “From here on out we can control our own destiny and that’s what we wanted.”
This story was originally published February 3, 2020 at 10:11 PM with the headline "Down but not out, NCCU comes back and knocks off Norfolk State."
