Hampered by foul trouble, the redshirt junior sank six three-pointers in the final 15 minutes as the Wildcats (4-10) cut a 66-47 deficit down to the final margin on Potts’ three with nine second remaining.
Jacksonville (7-8) got 20 points from Kori Babineaux and a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double from Marcel White as the Dolphins hit their first four three-pointers of the second half and pulled away from a 31-25 halftime lead.
Bethune-Cookman jumped out to a 6-0 lead on a Mario Moody jumper, and led 19-14 on a Moody 3-pointer with 9:21 left in the first half.
Jacksonville scored seven unanswered to take its first lead at 21-19 on two J.R. Holder free throws. After a Quinton Forrest lay-up, the Dolphins scored with a 10-4 run.
Ricky Johnson scored 11 for the Wildcats, while Forrest added 10. Moody led the team with eight boards, and LaRon Smith had five blocks.
Bethune-Cookman will try to snap its six-game losing streak Sunday at Grand Canyon, coached by former by NBA All-Star Dan Majerle.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
NCCU Bitten By Cold Shooting At Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. – An uncharacteristic shooting performance from North Carolina Central University did the Eagles in as they fell to Mississippi State 71-58 on Thursday, Dec. 31 at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Mississippi.
MSU (7-5) jumped out early on a 15-4 run and that set the tone for the contest. Patrick Cole carried the load for NCCU (5-9) in the first half, but the Eagles as a team struggled to hit the mark making just six of 34 attempts in the first half. NCCU picked up the pace in the second half, but still finished the game shooting under 25-percent.
Malik Newman paced the Bulldogs in the first half with 11 points to help the Bulldogs to a 34-17 lead at the break.
MSU shot over 50-percent in both halves of the game, helped mainly by Gavin Ware who was 5-for-7 for a game-high 16 points with nine rebounds.
Cole finished the game tied for the team-high with nine points along with Rashaun Madison and Jeremiah Ingram reached double-figures in rebounding for the third time this year with 12 along with his six points. Enoch Hood notched a career-high nine rebounds in his third start of the season.
NCCU opens 2016 at home against East Tennessee State on Monday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Hawks fall victim to hot-shooting Retrievers
BALTIMORE – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) hung around during the first half of Thursday’s New Year’s Eve matinee at UMBC. But the best shooting game of the year for the Retrievers (59 percent) prevented any second-half starring role for the Hawks.
UMES (3-12, 0-2 MEAC) got out to an early lead and tied the game as late as four minutes before the half. But UMBC put up 47 second-half points pulling away for an 89-75 win.
Those guards, sophomore Rodney Elliott and classmate Jarius Lyles accounted for 46 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. But the real bonus for the Retrievers came from junior guard Will Darley who was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field including four from downtown for 23 points.
Devin Martin finished the game with 24 points on 9-of-20 shooting including 5-of-11 from behind the arc, but had one assist and four turnovers. Dominique Elliott finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Bakari Copeland had 17 points and four rebounds.
The Hawks will next be heading to Pittsburgh to face the Panthers on Jan. 2 and then on to Columbia (New York) on Jan. 6. UMES does not return home until a Jan. 11 men’s and women’s doubleheader against Morgan State.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com