COLUMBIA, Mo. – North Carolina Central closed out the month of November with a four game winning streak capped off with a wire-to-wire win over Missouri by a score of 62-52 Monday. The win marks the Eagles’ first over an Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent in the program’s history.
The first half of the contest moved very slowly as both teams did not shoot too efficiently from the field. NCCU (4-2) made eight of 29 shots, and Mizzou (3-3) was six of 35, including nine missed shot attempts on the same possession within the first 50 seconds of the contest.
The Eagles scored first and held a lead going to the break with help from Patrick Cole (Newark, N.J.) who dropped in 11 points along with six rebounds in the first 20 minutes. Cole finished the game with multiple double-digit categories for the third-straight game with a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and he tacked on seven assists.
There was strong defensive play in the paint from both teams in the first period, as NCCU swatted seven shot attempts, and Mizzou put away four. Will Ransom (Houston, Texas) led the effort with three blocked shots, followed by Pablo Rivas (Phoenix, Ariz.) who had two. Michael Wolfe (Germantown, Md.) and Cole had one each. Ransom finished the game with 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in a phenomenal defensive performance.
On the other end of the floor, all four blocks were collected by Willie Jackson (Cleveland, Ohio).
The Eagles held a 24-20 lead at the break and kept that lead all the way through to the conclusion, holding off multiple surges from the Tigers for a 62-52 win.
For the second time this year, Rivas was 100 percent from the floor as he shot 6-for-6, and only missed one free throw for 16 points and six rebounds. Dajuan Graf (Charlotte, N.C.) also was a major contributor with 12 points and six rebounds.
NCCU opens December with a home contest against Southern Wesleyan on Thursday, Dec. 1 at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
Courtesy: NCCU Athletics
