NCCU Wins Offensive Explosion Versus Pfeiffer

DURHAM, NC - North Carolina Central University gave Pfeiffer University a dose of its own medicine Saturday night, as the Eagles out-scored the high-powered offense of the Falcons during a 106-100 victory at NCCU's McLendon-McDougald Gym in Durham, NC.

NCCU, averaging 68.7 points per game, netted the highest score for the Eagles since a 109-100 regulation victory at Bowie State on Jan. 12, 1995.

Pfeiffer, scoring more than 111 points per contest in three season-opening wins, suffers its first setback of the campaign to slide to 3-1.

The Durham duo of James Tucker and Charles Nickens sparked the Eagles with 20 points apiece. Tucker, a junior point guard out of Hillside High School, came off the bench to score a career-high and distribute 8 assists. Nickens, a red-shirt freshman from Southern High School, connected on 7-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point range.

NCCU senior Corey Tabron contributed 19 points, senior guard Shawn Ray added 15 points, and senior Alex Smith grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Junior Kenny Mickens amassed 22 points, 11 rebounds and 4 steals to lead the Falcons. Sophomore Rico Grier tallied 17 points and 5 assists, while junior Anthony Williams added 16 points, 9 boards, 4 steals and 3 assists.

Trailing 50-45 at halftime, NCCU (2-2) shot a blistering 56 percent (18-for-32) from the floor in the second stanza. And while Pfeiffer out-rebounded the Eagles 50-39 on the night, the Falcons committed 23 turnovers to NCCU's 17.