Game Statistics Video Interview with NCCU Head Coach LeVelle Moton
DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – North Carolina Central University scored the first 20 points of its men’s basketball season-opener versus upstart Johnson & Wales University and cruised to a 90-30 win on Friday night inside McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium in Durham, N.C.
The 60-point margin of victory is the largest for the Eagles since defeating Saint Paul’s College 100-34 on Dec. 12, 1951, and equaled the sixth biggest blowout in the program’s distinguished history.
Defensively, NCCU held Johnson & Wales to the lowest point total by an opponent since defeating a team from the Petersburg (Va.) YMCA, 81-29, on Dec. 27, 1948. It was the fewest points allowed by the Eagles against a college foe since beating Saint Augustine’s College, 75-28, during 1947-48 season.
Eleven of the 13 Eagles that hit the hardwood scored, including five with double figures. Junior transfer
Landon Clement topped NCCU (1-0) with 15 points, including a three-minute stretch in the second half when he drained four straight three-pointers.
NCCU senior #C.J. Wilkerson# contributed 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, while adding five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals. Junior transfer
Justin Leemow, junior
Nick Chasten and sophomore
Dijon Manns all scored 10 points for the Eagles. Leemow recorded game-highs of six assists and five steals, while Chasten collected game-highs of nine boards and four blocked shots.
A trio of NCCU freshmen posted impressive numbers in their college debuts.
Jeremy Ingram tallied seven points, three rebounds and three assists;
Emanuel Chapman had six points, five helpers, three caroms and three steals; and
Tim Hobbs chipped in five points and four rebounds.
Johnson & Wales (0-7), playing in its first season of basketball, was paced by sophomore guard Michael Pugh, who netted a team-best eight points off the bench.
NCCU scored the game’s first 20 points before Wildcats freshman Joseph Quispe ended the run with a jumper at the 13:21 mark. The Eagles continued to convert JWU turnovers into fast break points as the cushion grew to as much as 50-15 at intermission.
The Eagles led by as many as 61 points in the second half (89-28 at 2:29).
NCCU held the Wildcats to 18.8 percent shooting from the floor (9-of-48), while tickling the twine on 58.5 percent of its own field goal attempts (38-of-65).
Up next, NCCU travels to Norman, Okla., to take on the Oklahoma Sooners on Monday, Nov. 15.
For complete game statistics and a video interview with NCCU head coach LeVelle Moton, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
