NCCU home

NCCU routs Virginia Union in semifinals
By Mike Williams
Echo staff editor

After a dismal shooting effort in N.C. Central’s Quarterfinal CIAA Tournament game, senior guard Brett Harper scores 23 points to lead the Eagles by Virginia Union for the second time in two weeks 64-54 at the new Entertainment and Sports Arena in Raleigh.

N.C. Central controlled the whole game as they caught VUU off guard when they did not play their normal game. Coach Greg Jackson decided to slow the ball down and use the shot clock.

"We knew coming in that if we had a chance at all we would have to limit their possessions," he said. "I thought our point guard James Tucker did an excellent job controlling tempo. When you play Virginia Union, you better control the tempo or your going to get run out of Raleigh."

Tucker did control the ball game as he started the offense with about 12 seconds left on the 35-second shot clock. Each time down the floor NCCU was able to control the tempo and even VUU coach Dave Robbins was impressed with their success controlling the ball and the Eagles aggressiveness.

"I thought we truly got outplayed," said Robbins. "They were just so much more aggressive than we were. We need to find tougher players that don’t mind playing harder when the game gets tough."

NCCU was more aggressive as they had 34 free throw attempts to the Panthers 12.

"That was the difference in the game," said Robbins, the CIAA coach of the year.

Defense was the other key for the Eagles as they forced 13 turnovers. They used a half court trap at times and an extended 2-3 Zone. Jackson said that they did not think VUU’s guards could handle the pressure.

"We had to basically give them some different looks and try to up the pressure," he said.

The VUU guards did have trouble as they would play what Robbins called "sideline basketball", meaning no penetration to the basket.

"We played sideline basketball and were just not aggressive," he said. "They didn’t trap, our guards just picked up the ball in the corner and turned it over."

In the game against Bowie State, Harper struggled and junior Jimmy Boston stepped up. In this game Harper came out of a shooting slump and shot 6-12 and 8-10 from the line.

"Yesterday (against BSU) was a tough game for me and I played a little up tight," said Harper of his previous performance. "Today I just let the game come to me and I played more relaxed."

Jackson followed by saying, "I think a lot of people got down on Brett for his performance last night, but tonight he showed why he is All-CIAA."

Harper had to play well for the Eagles to win because the Panthers only allowed Boston to get five shot attempts and just eight points. Despite Boston’s unusual performance, other players stepped up like Gordon Tucker and senior Warren Bell who each had eight points.

VUU was led by Christian Anderson who scored 19 points and grabbed three rebounds in the contest.