Thompson Scores Career High in Win Over NC A&T
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Calvin Thompson poured in a career-high 33 points and Curtis White added 18 to lead Howard University to an 82-77 win over North Carolina A&T in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at the Corbett Sports Center.
A 6-3, 175-pound sophomore guard from New Orleans, Thompson connected on 9 of 15 from the floor, including 3 of 5 from three-point range to go along with a team-high 7 rebounds. He set the tone early for the Bison by tallying 21 points in the first half of a 7 of 8 shooting performance as Howard (4-14 overall, 3-1 in the MEAC) shot a season-best 67 percent from the floor.
"The game plan was to come out and establish what we wanted to do early," explained Howard Coach Gil Jackson. "We shot the ball extremely well and Calvin had an outstanding game for us. Curtis was also a key the way he has been playing."
White, a 6-4 senior guard from Indianapolis, IN, tallied 11 of his 18 points in the first 20 minutes, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the stripe.
The Aggies (5-12 overall, 1-3 in the MEAC) shot the ball well, hitting on 50 percent (15 of 30) in the first half but they could not keep up with the hot shooting of Thompson and White.
North Carolina A&T was able to cut into the Bison lead in the second half and narrowed the deficit to three, but Thompson, White and Dadrian Collins (15 points) all made key plays to stave off the comeback.
"We have to have more poise in situations like that, especially on the road," said Coach Jackson. "But overall, it was a good win for us because we are now 3-1 in the MEAC for the first time in a long time."
The Aggies were led by Tavarus Alston, who scored 13 of his team-high 19 in the second half and Nic Simpson and Thomas Coleman, who contributed 15 and 10, respectively.
NEXT UP: North Carolina A&T hosts Hampton University on Monday at 7:30 pm while the Bison will try to extend their win streak to three when they play the Spartans of Norfolk State in Norfolk, VA at 9:05 pm. The game will be televised live on ESPNU as part of the MEAC/ESPNU TV package.
