Image via North Carolina Central Athletics
Courtesy of North Carolina Central Athletics
North Carolina Central forward Khouri Carvey’s 24-point, 11-rebound performance steered the Eagles past Norfolk State 69-67 in the first game of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schedule at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday evening.
Carvey shot an efficient 56.3 percent from the field in his fourth double-double this season and was joined in double figures by Jae Slack (11) and Gage Lattimore, who had 14 points and seven rebounds.
NCCU (5-11, 1-0 MEAC) earned its first Division I victory of the season, staying composed as the contest remained tight throughout.
In the first half, NC Central got Carvey and Lattimore going early. Carvey worked hard in the paint as the Eagles had a 26-20 advantage in paint points. Lattimore started 2-of-2 from well beyond the arc. Davis would also get the energy flowing with a thunderous dunk.
Norfolk State kept things at bay, matching the same number of rebounds (21) and bench points (8), with a close 4-6 disadvantage in fastbreak points. The Spartans shot 31.4 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, while the Eagles went 16-of-30 (53.3 percent). NCCU was up 38-31 at the half.
After the break, the Spartans pulled within four points before the first media timeout as NSU’s Devon Ellis and Elijah Jamison continued making shots. NC Central would get the lead up to nine with 11:12 remaining, which was the largest lead of the game for either side. Norfolk State began to chip at the lead, as a layup from Jamison with 7:01 on the clock brought the Spartans within one.
The lead wouldn’t get beyond five points for the Eagles in the final five minutes, as NCCU never gave up the lead in the second half. Jae Slack and Carvey knocked down some important shots and free throws as the Eagles tried to close out the contest.
Ellis missed out on an opportunity to tie the game, missing the free throw of an and-one bucket. NCCU’s Tekao Carpenter followed that with a three-pointer with 50 seconds left, putting the Maroon and Gray up four, as NSU’s Jamison came down the court with an answer of his own after nailing a three to bring the game to 68-67.
After a Spartan timeout, Dionte Johnson was fouled, making 1-of-2 free throws with 13 seconds remaining. The Spartans called another timeout with 7.8 seconds on the clock and came back on the floor. NSU forward Keyontae Lewis got stuck with the ball beyond the arc before the ball finally made its way to Anthony McComb III, who didn’t get his shot off in time as Lattimore closed in, giving the Eagles the victory.
Ellis and Jamison combined for 33 points for NSU, as the Spartans are now 6-11, completing their ninth consecutive road game.
NCCU heads back on the road, visiting Coppin State next Saturday, Jan. 10, in Baltimore, Md. The game is set to tip at 4:30 p.m. in the Physical Education Complex.
