Box Score

Dominique Sutton's Monster Dunk vs. Florida A&M

DURHAM, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com) – North Carolina Central University missed a golden opportunity to start 2-0 in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) when the Eagles could not connect on five free throws down the backstretch of the second half and allowed Amin Stevens to record his first double-double of the season, while Reggie Lewis scored a season-high 22 points, sparking Florida A&M University to the 62-60 win on Saturday afternoon inside McDougald-McLendon Gym.
 
With conference play underway, the intensity was taken to another level in this game as the teams combined for 11 ties and six lead changes in their sixth meeting all-time. 
 
Neither team had a lead larger than five in the first half, as the Eagles led 11-9 with 11:42 left following a David Best (Raleigh, N.C.) put back, but the Rattlers responded with a 6-1 run of to grab a 15-12 lead with 9:31 remaining. 
 
The rest of the first frame went back-and-forth, but the maroon and gray made the last move, breaking open a 26-all contest with a 5-0 spurt that was highlighted by a Jeremy Ingram (Charlotte, N.C.) three-pointer sending NCCU into the locker room with a 31-26 lead.
 
Trailing 33-26 with 19:27 to go, Florida A&M made its biggest move of the day, going on an 13-to-3 run to take a 39-36 lead with 15:47 to go in the second half.
 
The rally started behind the hot shooting of Lewis who went 5-for-7 from three-point range in the second stanza.
 
For most of the final 20 minutes, every time NCCU made a move, Florida A&M had an answer.  This happened on five different occasions with the final time occurring after Anyaorah hit a huge three-pointer to tie the game at 57 with 2:44 to go, when FAMU’s Lewis dropped in his fifth shot from the outside, putting the Rattlers up for good at 60-57 with 2:21 left.
 
Despite trailing in the last minute, NCCU still had an opportunity to tie the game down two with 3.7 seconds left.  After a Stevens missed layup and a pile-up for a loose ball, FAMU’s Markee Teal fouled Anyaorah sending him to the foul line for two shots trailing 62-60.
 
Anyaorah missed the first attempt and was called for a lane violation on the second when he tried to throw the ball off of the rim, and the Eagles could not muster up another shot, falling 62-60 to Florida A&M.
 
The loss ends a six-game home winning streak for NCCU and head coach LeVelle Moton drops just his fifth contest when leading at the half.
 
Playing in his fourth game of the season, Stevens, a Preseason All-MEAC Member, finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the win for Florida A&M.
 
The Rattlers (3-13, 1-1 MEAC) outrebounded the Eagles 41-32 and recorded a 15-6 edge in second chance points.
 
Senior forward Dominique Sutton nearly recorded his sixth double-double of the season scoring 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the loss, while Anyaorah ended up with 13 points on 3-for-6 shooting from the outside.
 
Providing a spark off the bench for the Eagles, Jawara ended the night with eight points in the loss for the maroon and gray.
 
The defeat gives the Rattlers its first win over NCCU as the series now stands 5-1 in favor of the Eagles.
 
NCCU (7-8, 1-1 MEAC) has a quick turnaround as the defending league champion, Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats, travel to the Bull City to take on the Eagles in fourth meeting all-time between the two programs.  Tipoff from McDougald-McLendon Gym is set for 7:00 p.m. or 30 minutes following the first game of the twinbill on Monday, Jan 9.
 
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