 "Photo: Mitchell Webson/Echo staff photographer")
Before the largest crowd of the season (2,421) the N.C. Central University basketball team missed its first 10 shot attempts.
Coastal Carolina raced out to a 17-0 lead in the first 8 minutes of the game.
The final home game told the story of the whole season.
The Eagles have struggled to score points all season and have shot less than 40 percent for the year.
“We didn’t come out mentally ready tonight,” said junior guard C.J. Wilkerson.
Even with a horrid start and being down by as much as 20 points, the Eagles were able to cut the lead to 11 and go into halftime down 31-20.
NCCU came out of the half matching Coastal Carolina bucket for bucket.
The Eagles trimmed the Chanticleer lead to 8 points, led by the heroics of sophomore forward Nick Chasten, who finished with a team high of 17 points.
“I felt confident in my shot tonight after I was able to knock down a couple of shots,” said Chasten.
The Chanticleers, now 23-5, were led by senior duo Mario Edwards and Joseph Harris who combined for 34 of the team’s 68 points.
“We just ran up against a team that was bigger, stronger, faster, quicker and better than we are,” said coach LeVelle Moton.
Coastal Carolina, firmly in first place in the Big South Conference, looks poised to make a run to get into the NCAA basketball tournament.
“We played against the best team that we are going to play against in this gym this season,” Moton added.
With only one game remaining, versus Longwood in Farmville, Va., the Eagles will look to bounce back and end the season on a positive note.
“We have to go back and all the guys have to eat a slice of humble pie,” said Moton.
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