Senior center Ian Chiles finished with a career-high 26 points.
Box Score
Bear Shots
Postgame Press Conference
NORFOLK, Va. — Jeremy Ingram scored a game-high 29 points, but it was some deft free throw shooting that proved to be the difference as North Carolina Central pulled away to a 71-62 win over Morgan State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament championship at the Norfolk Scope.
In the process, the Eagles (28-5) capture their first ever tournament title since rejoining the MEAC in 2011. North Carolina Central receives the conference automatic bid and awaits its seeding on Sunday during the NCAA Selection committee announcement.
The teams battled back and forth in the first 20 minutes like two heavyweight champions. There were six ties and three lead changes with neither team leading by more than four. Ingram supplied the offense, tallying 18 of his team's points on seven-for-10 shooting from the field, including a perfect three-for-three from beyond the arc.
The Bears (15-16), the Number 3 seed, got their points by spreading the wealth, led by
Ian Chiles 10 points and eight each from
Anthony Hubbard and
Blake Bozeman. It is worth mentioning that the Bears' leading scorer,
Justin Black, who came into the game averaging 29 points in the two games, picked up two early fouls and went scoreless.
"I felt good coming into the game because I felt like when we played them down there we were actually up 13 in the first half and we had some turnovers that allowed them to get back in the game," said Morgan State head coach
Todd Bozeman.
"I felt good with the fact that Justin hadn't scored and it was a tied ballgame. If you look at the game before that, he hit 23 in the first half against Coppin State. So they really made an effort and you could see it when we put him back in right before the end of the half and he brought the ball up, three or four guys went to him. That's why we were able to get a guy open and make a play. They really just focused on him. At halftime, I really wanted him to be more of a decoy."
The two teams continued to battle in the second half until the Eagles got a push. After Black tied the game at 42 with 13:17 remaining, North Carolina Central began to take control. During one stretch, the Eagles hit 16 straight free throws to keep the Bears at bay.
At the other end, the Bears were forced to take three pointers in an attempt to get closer, but there was little margin for error and the Eagles, who have now won 20 in a row, sealed the deal at the charity stripe.
"You've got to be extremely tough," said NCCU head coach LeVelle Moton. "Hats off to Morgan State. It was a heck of a championship game. I thought we started off really well. We got into foul trouble and that's what allowed them to get back in the game. They also killed us on the glass and there was a big concern coming in. We didn't finish the half like we were supposed to. It was going to come down to toughness and 50-50 balls. We just made plays down the stretch."
The win by North Carolina overshadowed an incredible performance by Chiles, the 7-2 senior center for Morgan State, who had perhaps the best game of his career with 26 points, six rebounds
And several altered shots by the Eagles. Chiles fouled out Jay Copeland and Jordan Parks, who took turns defending him.
"It's tough. We fought until the end," said Chiles. "Today the better team won. They decided to single cover me.and when that happens, I feel that I can score on anyone. We just came up a little short tonight."
In addition to Chiles' 26,
Anthony Hubbard chipped in with 12 and Bozeman contributed 10. Black scored all of his nine points after intermission.
For the Eagles, the regular season champion, Karamo Jawara complemented Ingram's 29 with 10 points.
For North Carolina Central, it all came down to free throw shooting, where they converted 25 of 30 in the second half for 83 percent.
"They're a good team," noted Bozeman. "They only lost five games. They run their stuff and the make their free throws. I thought we played hard, but the better team won."
"Free throw shooting is something we work on it practice every day," said Ingram, the MEAC Player of the Year. "We put ourselves in pressure situations and we approach it with a clear head and knock them down."
2014 MEAC All-Tournament Team
Jeremy Ingram, North Carolina Central
Pendarvis Williams, Norfolk State
DuVaughn Maxwell, Hampton
Justin Black, Morgan State
James "J-Byrd" Daniel, Howard
Tournament MVP
Jeremy Ingram, NC Central
Tournament Most Outstanding Coach
LeVelle Moton
