GREENSBORO (November 26, 2016) – The North Carolina A&T men's basketball team lost its fifth straight with a 66-49 loss to Jacksonville Saturday evening at Corbett Sports Center. The Dolphins were able to capitalize on 16 N.C. A&T turnovers by outscoring the Aggies 21-10 off turnovers.
Devin Harris helped the Dolphins with their ball handling by playing 40 minutes with 12 points, six rebounds, six assists and no turnovers. Junior Sam Hunt led the Aggies with 15 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the floor. Junior Davaris McGowens finished with eight points and eight rebounds.
It was a tough home loss for the Aggies. N.C. A&T (1-5) only held one lead in the game, a 4-3 advantage on a McGowens layup five minutes into the game. After a floater in the lane by Hunt a minute later brought the Aggies to within one, the Dolphins (5-2) took control.
Two Aggie turnovers and a missed 3-pointer led to eight straight Dolphin points as the Dolphins went 4-for-4 from the field during the run. McGowens ended the run with a free throw, but Cody Helgeland kept the Dolphins hot by knocking down a 3-pointer to give Jacksonville a 19-8 lead. The Aggies never got any closer than nine in the first half as they trailed 35-24 at the half.
The Aggies would trail by as many as 15 in the second half as two Helgeland gave the Dolphins a 50-35 lead with 7:52 remaining in the game. But an Amari Hamilton 3-pointer cut that lead to 12. Freshman Raymon Pratt followed with another three before turning a steal into a layup that cut the Dolphins lead to 50-43 with 5:45 to play. Two Hamilton free throws kept the Aggies run going, but Harris finally answered for the Dolphins with a 3-pointer to take a 53-45 lead with 4 ½ minutes to play.
Harris' three sparked 14-0 Jacksonville run to put the game away. J.R. Holder led three Dolphins in double figures with 15 points. Helgeland added 12 points and six assists.
The Aggies return to action Tuesday night at 7 against crosstown rivals UNC Greensboro at the Greensboro Coliseum. Follow N.C. A&T men's basketball on Twitter @ATAggieHoops. Follow Aggie Athletics on Facebook (@ncatathletics), Twitter (@ncataggies) and Instagram (@ncatathletics). #Get2KnowUs.
