Final Box Score
ORANGEBURG,SC—Senior guard Carrio Bennett poured in a team-high 21 points, while Darnell Porter chipped in 16 and grabbed four boards but ,wasn't enough as NC Central posted a 74-71 victory in overtime over SC State Saturday at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

       NC Central improves to 4-3 overall and posted its first road win in two years with the victory. The Bulldogs fall to 3-4 on the season.

       “We just didn't play hard enough against a good and well coach NC Central team,” stated SC State head coach Tim Carter. “We got out hustle and played in the first-half so it made it difficult to try and get back in the game.”

      NC Central jumped out to a quick 10 point advantage, 20-10 off a 3-pointer by junior Nick Chasten (6-7, forward, Raleigh, NC) at the 10:54 mark. The Eagles built its biggest lead of the night 18, 36-18 when junior Landon Clement (6-1, guard, Raleigh, NC) nailed a 3-pointer with 4:54 left in the first-half.

       Senior Tyron Williams tossed in a 3-pointer with 0:33 seconds left to spark a 10-3 run and pull the Bulldogs within nine, 30-39. Clement nailed a 3-pointer as time expired to close the gap and give NC Central a 12 point lead, 30-42 with 0:03 seconds left. Senior Carrio Bennett hit a pair of free-throws off a technical foul called on Clement to pull SC State within 10, 32-42 before half-time.

       Senior guard Tyvon Williams hit a layup at the 16:13 mark to pull the Bulldogs within three, 42-45. Bennett's layup put SC State ahead 53-51 with 10:13 left in the contest. NC Central built a five point lead, 56-61 off a layup by sophomore Jonathan Nicely (6-4, 194, Augusta, GA). Carrio Bennet hit a floating layup with 0:11 seconds left in the contest to tie the game 65-65 and force overtime.

      Carter stated “I thought we played extremely well in the second-half to be in the game.”

       In overtime Clement's 3-pointer with 2:15 left in the contest put the Eagles ahead 69-71. Porter tossed in a pair of free-throws with 0:35 seconds left to tie the game 71-71. Forward Nick Chasten hit a layup while being fouled to put NC Central up 73-71 with 0:13 seconds left. Chasten's free-throw was good and NC Central cruised to a 74-71 overtime victory over SC State.

       NC Central was led in scoring by Nick Chasten with a double-double 24 points and 11 rebounds, C.J. Wilkerson added 22 points and five rebounds, and Landon Clement chipped in 16 along with four 3-pointers to seal the victory.

       JUCO transfer Omar Sanders recorded his first career double-double as a Bulldog with 10 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

      SC State out-rebounded NC Central 39-29, while the Eagles shot 71.4% from the 3-point arc hitting 11-23.

       South Carolina will return to action on Tuesday when they host Voorhees College in a non-conference matchup at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.

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