East Tennessee State tops NC Central 72-68

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) T.J. Cromer scored 12 points, and made some clutch free throws late, to help East Tennessee State beat North Carolina Central 72-68 Monday night.

Kyle Benton's layup pulled N.C. Central to within two, 63-61, with 3:01 to go. On the next possession, Dante Holmes was called for a hard foul on Desonta Bradford, and was also assessed a technical foul. Cromer made both free throws on the technical, then Bradford made the pair for the foul, and ETSU went up by six.

Holmes hit a 3-pointer to make it a four-point game with 1:09 left, but Cromer and Bradford made 3 of 4 from the line in the last 13 seconds to ice it.

Isaac Banks had 12 points and 12 rebounds for ETSU (8-6). Ge'Lawn Guyn added 11 points. The Buccaneers won the rebound battle 42-32.

N.C. Central (5-10) was led by Patrick Cole with 22 points. Holmes finished with 18 points and nine boards.