NC Central tops McNeese 77-71 after blowing 19 point lead
DURHAM, N.C. -- Brandon Goldsmith scored a career-high 19 points, Raasean Davis had a double-double and North Carolina Central defeated McNeese State 77-71 on Thursday night after blowing a 19-point lead in the second half.
Davis had 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds and Pablo Rivas had 17 points for the Eagles (5-8), who ended a three-game losing streak.
James Harvey had 16 points and Jacob Ledoux 14 for the Bulldogs (2-6).
After McNeese used three straight 3-pointers to cut a 14-point deficit to five, the Eagles responded with a 7-0 run that led to a 42-32 advantage at the half. Central then scored the first seven points of the second half, the last six on 3-point plays by Rivas, for a 17-point lead.
The spread reached 19 before the Cowboys charged back, a 19-5 run making it 63-62 after a LaBarrius Hill tipin. After an Eagle free throw, Harvey hit a 3 to put McNeese up 65-64 and Ledoux's 3 gave the Cowboys a 68-66 lead with 4:47 remaining.
But with the game tied at 69 and less than 3-minutes remaining, the Eagles closed it out with an 8-2 run on four free throws and two baskets from Davis.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Keith Bennett
- Kendall Pike
- Chet Walker
2023-24 Southland Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
McNeese | 17-1 | - | 30-4 |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 14-4 | 3 | 21-12 |
Nicholls | 13-5 | 4 | 20-14 |
Lamar | 12-6 | 5 | 19-14 |
SE Louisiana | 10-8 | 7 | 15-17 |
Northwestern State | 7-11 | 10 | 9-23 |
Texas A&M-Commerce | 6-12 | 11 | 13-20 |
New Orleans | 4-14 | 13 | 10-23 |
Houston Christian | 4-14 | 13 | 6-23 |
Incarnate Word | 3-15 | 14 | 8-23 |
2023-24 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Norfolk State | 11-3 | - | 24-11 |
North Carolina Central | 9-5 | 2 | 18-13 |
Howard | 9-5 | 2 | 18-17 |
South Carolina State | 9-5 | 2 | 14-18 |
Morgan State | 7-7 | 4 | 11-20 |
Delaware State | 6-8 | 5 | 15-19 |
Maryland-Eastern Shore | 4-10 | 7 | 9-20 |
Coppin State | 1-13 | 10 | 2-27 |