FARGO, N.D. – Thanks to a stellar second half, North Dakota State defeated North Carolina A&T 77-56 in men's basketball at Scheels Arena Sunday night.
Aggie senior forward Bruce Beckford scored in double figures for the sixth straight game with 19 points and nine rebounds. Graduate wingman Joshea Singleton posted a season-high 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting. NDSU's Paull Miller led all scorers with 27 points.
The Aggies dropped to 0-7 on the season, but there is a possibility help is on the way. Six of the next eight N.C. A&T games are at home inside Corbett Sports Center including the next four. Amongst those four consecutive home games are the Aggies first two conference games against Howard (Dec. 5) and Maryland Eastern Shore (Dec. 7).
“We're looking forward to playing at home because we're very close to turning this thing around,” said N.C. A&T head coach Cy Alexander.
When the home stand is over Alexander wants to come away with a few wins and a reduced rotation. The Aggies played 12 players on Sunday, Alexander says he wants to see that number reduced to an 8-or-9 man rotation. The first five players on the floor for the Aggies Sunday got off to a tremendous start. Fueled by Singleton and Beckford the Aggies scored the first 12 points of the game. When senior Ahmad Abdullah knocked down a jump shot the Aggies had their biggest lead of the game at 20-5 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
The Bison (4-1) were very effective from there. The Bison went 4-for-6 from the floor during a 14-0 run that cut the Aggies lead to one. Singleton ended the run with a layup. After a Dexter Werner layup, Beckford and graduate forward Ede Egharevba stretched the Aggies lead back to five at 26-21 with 2:55 to play in the first half. But the Bison outscored the Aggies 6-2 to trail 28-27 at the half.
Singleton opened the second half with a steal and dunk, but Malik Clements and Miller hit consecutive threes to take a 33-30 lead. The Aggies never saw the lead again. Miller pushed the Bison lead to 11, 45-34, with 11 minutes to play. Two minutes later Beckford completed a 5-0 run to get the lead back to six.
But with 6:37 remaining, Miller came through for the Bison again with a jump shot that increased the lead to 55-44. The Aggies never got the lead under double figures again.
“They took it to a whole other level,” said Alexander about the Bison's second half. “They dominated us on the inside, and we just didn't play tough enough. I liked the way we came out and played with enthusiasm in the first half. We have to figure out how to put two halves together as we enter this home stretch.”
