CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel trailed by two at halftime but used six second half 3-pointers to defeat North Carolina Central 67-61 and win the two-day Creek Classic with a 2-0 record.
AJ Smith scored 11 of his game-high 21 points in the second half as he went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.
First Half:
- Winston Hill's corner three capped off a 10-0 run to begin the game.
- NCCU cut the margin to one, 12-11, before a pair of triples by Elijah Morgan extended the lead to seven, 18-11.
- A pair of Smith free throws held the difference at eight, 27-18, but CIT endured a 1-for-12 stretch from the floor as NCCU regained the advantage, 30-29.
- Keynan Davis answered on the next trip down the floor by getting to the line himself and sinking two, 31-30 CIT, with 2:23 remaining until the break.
- NCCU scored on its last four possessions of the half to hold a slim 37-35 lead at halftime.
Second Half:
- Smith's 3-pointer put CIT ahead 38-27, 1:24 into the second stanza.
- Another make from long range by Smith at the 13:29 mark, held the CIT edge at 48-45.
- NCCU tied the game at 50-50 just over halfway through the half.
- A wing triple by Christian Moore off a dish from Quentin Millora-Brown put CIT up four, 57-53, before Smith hit his third 3-ball of the second 20 to stretch the margin to 60-53.
- A Hill layup gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the game at nine, 62-53, with 5:48 to go.
- Moore's second long ball made it 67-58 t0 seal the win for The Citadel.
Up Next:
The Citadel will stay in Buies Creek one more day to take on Campbell in a game not affiliated with the Creek Classic at 5 pm on Wednesday.
