Florida A&M 82, Howard 78 (OT)
Bethune-Cookman 78, North Carolina A&T State 73
North Carolina Central 68, Coppin State 63
Morgan State 61, Maryland Eastern Shore 53
Norfolk State 85, Delaware State 57
Florida A&M 82, Howard 78 (OT)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Evins Desir matched his career high with 18 points as the Florida A&M University men’s basketball overcame a sluggish performance to force overtime and defeat Howard, 82-78, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game on Saturday at the Al Lawson Center.
Florida A&M (8-13 overall, 6-4 MEAC), which matched its longest win streak of the season and will remained perfect at home, trailed 34-30 at the half and by as many as six points early in the second half. The Rattlers forced overtime on a Rod Melton, Jr. 3-pointer and went 5-of-6 at the foul line down the stretch to earn their eighth win of the season.
Desir poured in 18 points, on 7-of-10 shooting, with three rebounds and pair of steals. Kamron Reaves registered 15 points, a game-high seven assists and three rebounds, while DJ Jones posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds, along with one assist. Melton tallied 11 points, two boards and one assist and Brendon Myles came off the bench to provide 10 points and eight rebounds.
Nate Garvey led all scorers with 20 points, including six 3-pointers, with five rebounds, two assists and one steal to pace Howard. Charles Williams recorded 17 points, three boards, two assists and one block. Phillip Jones and Wayne Bristol each added 13 points as the Bison dropped their 13th straight game.
Bethune-Cookman 78, North Carolina A&T State 73
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Leon Redd and Wali Parks each scored a career-high 17 points apiece as Bethune-Cookman defeated North Carolina A&T 78-73 on Saturday to start the second half of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play.
Malik Maitland added 15 points with six assists and Isaiah Bailey had 11 points and 11 rebounds for Bethune-Cookman (11-12 overall, 5-4 Mid-Eastern Conference) as it improved to 6-1 at home this season with a wild finish.
The Wildcats' largest lead of the night, 69-50 on two Maitland free throws with 6:28 remaining, dwindled to 71-69 when NCAT's Andre Jackson made a layup at the two-minute mark.
Redd sank two free throws and then Jordan Preaster threw down a dunk for a six-point lead that wasn't threatened in the final minute.
North Carolina Central 68, Coppin State 63
BALTIMORE – North Carolina Central University knocked down 10 three-pointers and led Coppin State for over 32 minutes on its way to a 68-63 win at the Physical Education Complex on Saturday, Feb. 8.
The first half of the game was marked by a pair of runs as NCCU (11-12-, 7-2 MEAC) took the lead on a 9-0 run, but then CSU (7-18, 3-7 MEAC) regained the advantage after a 7-0 run of their own to go ahead 21 -17.
Jibri Blount (Pittsburgh, Pa.) powered that 9-0 run for NCCU as he scored the first nine points for the Eagles, and after that Justin Whatley (Chesapeake, Va.) scored the next five. NCCU caught fire from the perimeter midway through the first period as Deven Palmer (Hyde Park, Mass.) went four-for-four from downtown, and Blount, Whatley, and Ty Graves (Greensboro, N.C.) each knocked down a trey as well.
Strong rebounding and free throw shooting kept CSU close in the first half as the hosts went 5-for-6 from the line, and NCCU didn't record a single attempt in the first 20 minutes. However, NCCU took a 33-31 lead to the intermission.
NCCU started the second half on a 9-0 run started by a three-pointer from Blount, but CSU put together a 7-0 run of its own to trim the lead back to four. NCCU kept its hot shooting going in the second half and stretched the lead out to as many as 13, but CSU wouldn't go away easily.
Morgan State 61, Maryland Eastern Shore 53
BALTIMORE, Maryland — After a close first half, the Morgan State University Bears were able to use a run in the second half to keep the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball team at bay as the home team was victorious 61-53.
“There was a four- or five-minute segment where I think they were the tougher basketball team and created separation,” head coach Jason Crafton said. “Once we got out of that and focused on us, we were able to go on a nice run to end the game out.”
The first 20 minutes of the game were played pretty even. The score was tied six times, but the Hawks never led. Morgan State had the advantage in the paint outscoring the Hawks 14-6, but Eastern Shore made four from long distance while the Bears made just one in the opening half.
When play resumed after halftime, the game’s intensity ratcheted up. Morgan State’s head coach Kevin Broadus was called for a technical foul 45 seconds into the half. Senior AJ Cheeseman (Snellville, Georgia) hit one of the two free throws to make the MSU lead 29-24.
Redshirt senior Ahmad Frost (Cincinnati, Ohio) hit a 3-pointer at the 17:35 mark to bring the Hawks within five at 34-29. The Bears would respond by going on an 11-2 run to grab a 45-31 advantage with less than 12 minutes left.
Morgan State would eventually get their lead up to as many as 15 at 54-39 with 6:12 left, but Eastern Shore would continue to fight. The Shore turned up their defensive pressure and got the game to single digits after a layup from redshirt sophomore Walter Prevost (Houston, Texas) with 1:40 remaining.
One minute later, freshman Da’Shawn Phillip (Baltimore, Maryland) hit a three to make the score 59-53. The Hawks would force a jump ball on the ensuing inbound to get possession right back. Phillip would get another good look from 3-point range with 28 seconds left, but it hit off the front of the rim and the Bears got the rebound, hit two free throws and secured the win.
Frost scored 15 points for the second straight game to lead the squad in scoring. Cheeseman had 10 before fouling out and Phillip finished with nine in front of his hometown crowd.
Norfolk State 85, Delaware State 57
NORFOLK, Va. - A strong second half was the right medicine for the Norfolk State men's basketball team, which defeated Delaware State 85-57 in a conference game on Saturday evening at Joseph Echols Hall.
The Spartans outscored the Hornets by 22 in the second half after a slow start to the contest. A big advantage in the turnover department, along with 13 3-pointers, also played a large part in NSU improving to 7-2 overall in the MEAC. The Spartans now sit a half game back of North Carolina A&T (8-2) for first place.
NSU (11-13 overall) had four players in double figures, including junior Devante Carter with a career-high 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting with eight rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Joe Bryant Jr. added 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting with four rebounds and four assists, his third 20-point game of the season.
Senior Jermaine Bishop had five of the team's 13 3-pointers for an 18-point night.
Delaware State (3-19, 2-6 MEAC) shot just 33 percent for the game and committed 20 turnovers. The Spartans held a 27-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
NSU led by six at the break, and by as much as 12 in the first half. Delaware State got as close as four early in the second half before the Spartans surged ahead for good thanks to a 53 percent second-half shooting clip.
^-Ineligible for MEAC Championship and Postseason Play |
Maurice D. Williams Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations