DURHAM, N.C. – Malik Jackson scored 14 points in Bethune-Cookman's 77-54 loss to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference leading North Carolina Central Saturday.

Reggie Groves scored 15 points as the Eagles (17-5 overall, 8-1 MEAC)  expanded their win streak to nine games while defeating the Wildcats (5-21,3-8) for the sixth straight time in regular season play.

North Carolina Central  took charge when it  broke out to a 17-5 lead on the heels of a trio of 3-pointers made by Groves over a 90-second span midway through the first period. The Eagles upped that gap to 13 and led Bethune-Cookman 35-22 at the break.

Jackson got It under 10 on two occasions in the second half – his  three-pointer with 16:25 left made it 41-32 and a jumper a minute later cut it to 43-34, but the Wildcats could come no closer.

Mikel Trapp added 13 points, and Maurice Taylor 10 for the Wildcats. Trapp was 3-5 from three-point range.

B-CU faces North Carolina A&T Monday.

NOTES: Jackson was in double figures for the sixth straight games ... B-CU had a season-high 20 turnovers and a season-low 21 rebounds ... Allan Dempster had six rebounds, his fourth team high of the season.