Ingram Lead NCCU Eagles Over SCSU Bulldogs 67-53

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina — Senior guard Jeremy Ingram poured in a game-high 22 points to lead North Carolina Central to a, 67-53, victory over South Carolina State Saturday at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

The Bulldogs fall to 8-16 overall, 4-7 in the MEAC, while the Eagles soar to 19-5 overall, 10-1 in the league and extend their conference winning streak to 11-straight games.

"We played a very good NC Central team tonight," said Bulldog head coach Murray Garvin. "I feel like I am repeat because we are discussing turnovers again. We have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball."

"It's been tough not having Jalen White and someone stepping up to fill that point guard role," said Garvin. "Make no excuses their guards played really well tonight in Ingram and Parks."

NCCU jumped out to a quick six point lead, 20-14, off a 3-pointer by Ingram at the 8:09 mark. A jumper by junior forward Karamo Jawara  followed by a layup senior point guard Emanuel Chapman pushed the Eagles lead to 10, 26-16 with 3:21 remaining in the first-half.

The Bulldogs cut the lead in half to five, 22-27, off a tip-in by junior guard/forward Devin Joint with 0:21 seconds remaining in the half. NC Central closed out the first-half with a 29-22 lead over SC State.

Garvin stated, "We felt pretty good coming into the game and played well the first twelve minutes of the first-half."

Ingram nailed the second of his three 3-pointers of the day to extend NCCU lead to 17, 48-31, at the 11:22 mark in the second-half. Junior guard Jordan Parks's driving layup with 2:35 remaining in regulation gave the Eagles their biggest lead of the game 22, 67-45. Parks finished with 16 points and eight rebounds to secure the Eagles 67-53 victory over the Bulldogs.

Despite, a costly 21 turnovers South Carolina State's bench outscored NCCU 30-19, while the Eagles dominated in the paint 40-22 and scored 33 unanswered points off turnovers in the win.

SC State was led by senior guard Theron Stephens with 10 points, while sophomore forward Daryll Palmer added nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

"We have to move forward and get ready for a young and scrappy Aggie team on Monday," said Garvin.

South Carolina State returns to action on Monday when they host conference rival North Carolina A&T in an MEAC doubleheader, beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the men following afterwards.

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION