EAST GREENSBORO – In between on the lob passes and passes off the backboards for dunks, the North Carolina A&T men's basketball team managed to grind out a gritty 78-63 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) win over S.C. State Monday night at Corbett Sports Center. 
 
The Aggies completed their four-game homestand 4-0 as they won their 22^nd straight game over a MEAC opponent at home. 
 
Monday was a rewarding win for the Aggies (12-12, 8-1 MEAC) who sit atop the MEAC after defeating a Norfolk State team that was undefeated in the conference prior to entering Corbett Sports Center on Saturday. 
 
The Aggies could have easily let down after such a big win. But instead they played loose opening each half with a lob pass on backdoor cuts. There was even Andre Jackson's pass off the backboard to Ronald Jackson for a dunk in the first half. But the Aggies are not all showtime as they showed Monday night. 
 
When it was required, they buckled down defensively, hit their free throws, took care of the basketball and took advantage of the Bulldogs' mistakes. The Aggies made 23 of 34 free throws, turned the ball over only 10 times and outscored the Bulldogs 21-7 in points off turnovers. 
 
"We're pushing to score in the high 80's, low 90's if we can," said acting head coach Will Jones. "South Carolina State played a lot of zone in the second half to try to slow us down a little bit. But I think the last two games we've shown we can also make it tough for the opponent to score. So pushing the pace and trying to run is to our benefit because of our athleticism. We're going to continue to do that. But we can also use that athleticism to shut you down defensively." 
 
After the high-flying Aggies led by the high-flying junior guard Kwe Parker who caught two alley-oop dunks, the Aggies found themselves leading by just one point, 47-46, with 12 minutes to play in the game. 
 
Freshman Fred Cleveland Jr., ignited a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer to give the Aggies a 54-46 lead. They went up by double figures when Andre Jackson got behind the defense and took a pass from Ronald Jackson to put the Aggies ahead 60-50 with 5:55 remaining. 
 
A 3-point play by Damani Applewhite cut the lead to seven, but senior Devin Haygood hit a short jumper in the lane, followed by a Kameron Langley free throw and a strong drive to the basket by Andre Jackson that resulted in a 3-point play to N.C. A&T a 66-53 lead with four minutes remaining. The Bulldogs never got the lead to under 10 again. 
 
"I told the guys coming into this game not to relax. Don't give up what you earned," said Jones. "I knew if we did the things, we needed to do then things would take care of themselves. I thought that happened tonight."
 
Five Aggies scored in double figures for the second straight game. Ronald Jackson led the way with 16 and 13 rebounds. It was his 12^thdouble-double of the season and his fifth in the last six games. Andre Jackson had 15 points followed by Kameron Langley who finished with 14 points and six assists and 5-for-10 shooting. 
 
Haygood added 13 points and six rebounds and Parker finished with 10. 
 
N.C. A&T led by as many as eight in the first half as Cleveland netted a three to give the Aggies a 32-23 with 2:49 remaining in the first half. S.C. State responded with a 7-0 run ignited by a 3-pointer from Trushaun Moorer. 
 
Parker added a free throw just before halftime to give the Aggies a 32-30 lead at the half. Rayshawn Neal led the Bulldogs (9-12, 4-5 MEAC) with 17 points. 
 
The Aggies will have to show more toughness when they go on the road to face the MEAC's two Florida teams starting with Bethune-Cookman 4 p.m, Saturday, Feb. 8 in Daytona Beach. 
 
"We have to refocus, get ready to go on the road for two games and just focus on one game at a time,'" said Jones. "These are two teams we've already defeated, so we just need to go down there focused so we can continue striving toward our goal."