GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T, the 13th-ranked bowling team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, went 3-1 on the first day of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) meet at Triad Lanes. They lead the tournament by 428 pins. 

The Aggies (26-5, 3-1 MEAC) knocked down at least 1,000 pins in three of the games they played on Friday. They totaled 5,157 total pins to average 206.3. Monmouth is 3-1 and sits in second place with 4,729 total pins. Monmouth is followed by No. 15 Delaware State (4,631), UAB (4,490) and Coppin State (4,263).                

N.C. A&T started the day with three consecutive 1,000-plus games. The Aggies began with a bye and recorded 1,038 pins, followed by a 1,088-975 win over UAB. N.C. A&T outscored UAB 231-170 in the first game, but the Blazers outscored the Aggies 235-196 in the second game to cut the lead to 427-405. However, the Aggies outscored the Blazers in the final three games, 611-514. 

The Aggies went 2-0 on the day after a 1,092-928 win over Coppin State. The Eagles outscored N.C. A&T 212-207 in the first game, but the Aggies outscored CSU 190-135 in the second game to take a 397-347 lead. N.C. A&T outscored the Eagles 448-315 over the final two games to win. 

N.C. A&T stayed perfect on the day after a 983-915 win over DSU. The Hornets outscored the Aggies 182-173 in the first game and 205-204 in the second game for a 387-377 lead. N.C. A&T outscored DSU 222-191 in the third game to take a 599-578 lead. The Aggies outscored the Hornets in the final two games, 192-158 in the fourth game and 192-179 in the last game for the 68-pin win.

The Aggies lost the day's final game, 975-956, to Monmouth to snap a seven-game winning streak. 

Monmouth outscored N.C. A&Tin first and second games for a 399-359 lead. The Hawks outscored the Aggies 190-180 in the third game for a 589-539 lead. N.C. A&T had a huge fourth game outscoring Monmouth 209-179 to cut the lead to 768-748.

In the final game, the Aggies had a 98-88 lead in the fourth frame, but an open frame in the sixth gave Monmouth a 128-121 lead. N.C. A&T outscored the Hawks 87-79 during the rest of the game to outscored Monmouth 208-207 in the final game but lost the game by 19 pins.

The second day continues Saturday with five traditional matches. The Aggies begin the day with Coppin State, followed by Delaware State and UAB. N.C. A&T finishes with a bye and Monmouth. The tournament concludes with three best-of-seven baker matches Sunday.