DURHAM - The stat line on the box score was very clear. The North Carolina A&T men's basketball team shot 2-for-18 from 3-point range.
What wasn't so glaring on the box score was exactly how many layups the Aggies missed Saturday night in their 65-46 loss to archrival N.C. Central at McDougald-McLendon Gym.
"I think we missed more layups than threes," said N.C. A&T head coach Jerry Eaves. "It just happens. They have a great atmosphere. Our kids couldn't get comfortable."
NCCU and N.C. A&T came into Saturday's game as the top two scoring teams in the conference. Yet both teams struggled to get into any kind of offensive rhythm. Neither team shot above 40 percent and they nearly spilt game's 40 turnovers evenly.
What made the difference for the Eagles was the benefit of playing with the lead most of the game. The spurt that put the Eagles in command occurred at the five-minute mark of the first half. After North Carolina A&T guard Nic Simpson hit two free throws to pull the Aggies to within three at 23-20, Eagles guard Jeremy Ingram ignited an 8-0 run with a 3-pointer from deep in the corner.
Willis capped off the run with back-to-back fast break slams from the wing to give the Eagles a 31-20 lead. The Aggies kept it close, but never could put a big enough dent into the Eagles lead.
"We couldn't make a basket or layup and things just kind of got compounded from there ecause the guys got frustrated," said Eaves. "We competed. We still had chances. But we would have an offensive foul, or we would just do something to break the rhythm of the play. We had too many people trying to do things off the dribble. It was a learning experience for our guys."
N.C. A&T went into the locker room down 35-28, and didn't make matters any better by connecting on just two field goals in the first 10 minutes of the half. Despite the offensive struggles, Simpson's layup pulled the Aggies to within seven at 43-36. The Aggies never got any closer. Two free throws by Dominique Sutton and three from Landon Clement put the Eagles ahead 50-38 with 9:24 remaining.
"They average 92 points per game, so if we were hitting our shots, they would have been pressing," said Eaves. "When you're ahead, it's easier to shoot and make shots. Our kids were pressing because they wanted to make shots. The ball just didn't go in."
Simpson was the only Aggie in double figures with 12. Junior Adrian Powell added nine points and 10 rebounds. Sutton led NCCU with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Clement contributed with 16 and Willis had 15.
The Aggies will take a week off before journeying on a two-week road trip that will include stops in Indiana, Florida, California, Hawaii, Ohio and Texas.
