NCAA News Wire

North Carolina Central 61, Howard 39

Anthony McDonald scored six of his game-high 21 points during a second-half run that helped North Carolina Central take command en route to a 61-39 victory over Howard in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game played Sunday night in the Big Apple Classic at the Barclays Center in New York.

McDonald seven of 15 3-point attempts. He didn’t attempt a 2-point shot or a free throw. The guard sank two his long shots in a 13-point second-half run that gave North Carolina Central (6-3, 2-0 MEAC) a 52-31 lead with 4:34 left.

That long dry spell crushed the Bison. Howard had stayed close throughout but didn’t score a point for seven minutes, 16 seconds and got only three in a period of 10:19.

Forward Jordan Parks helped North Carolina Central with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Guard James Daniel led Howard (5-5, 1-1) with 14 points, the only Bison player to reach double figures.

North Carolina Central led throughout most of the first half and held a 27-19 edge at halftime as Howard endured another dry spell, making just one basket in the final six minutes.

Howard’s next game is a nonconference matchup at Richmond on Saturday. North Carolina Central, which has won five straight, plays at Maryland on Wednesday.