DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ray Willis scored 20 points and paced North Carolina Central from the free-throw line, going 10 for 10 in the Eagles 81-79 win over Bethune-Cookman on Monday night.
The Eagles (12-11, 6-4 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) were outshot from the field (56.9 percent, 29 of 51 to 51.9 percent, 27 of 52), outscored off turnovers (23-14) and in the paint (44-32), but survived from the free-throw line. North Carolina Central went 20 of 22 from the stripe, (90.0 percent), including 11 of 13 in the second half.
The Eagles led 77-70 with 16 seconds left before going 6 of 6 from the line, holding off Bethune-Cookman’s long-range barrage. The Wildcats (10-14, 7-3) made three 3-pointers in the same span during a 9-4 run.
Nick Chasten and Donimique Sutton added 18 points each for the Eagles.
Bethune-Cookman was led by Adrien Coleman with 29 points, 19 coming in the second half.
