DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman briefly took the lead after trailing by 12 at halftime, but North Carolina Central regained control and pulled away to a 65-51 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory Saturday in Moore Gym.

Trailing 33-21 to start the second half, the Wildcats (8-17 overall, 4-6 MEAC) took the lead on a pair of free throws by Brandon Stewart to make it 42-41 with 11:00 left.

Nimrod Hilliard scored on a layup to make it 46-42 and the Eagles pulled away down the stretch.

Stewart got the Wildcats within 48-47 on a lay-up with 7:23 remaining, but the Wildcats managed just four Ricky Johnson points down the stretch.

Among the top field goal shooters in the country (62 percent), Jordan Parks knocked down 6 of 7 shots from the field and was 4 of 5 from the free-throw line to lead the Eagles (19-6, 11-0) with 16 points.

Stewart had 17 and Johnson 13 to lead the Wildcats. Delino Dear made all three shots for six points and led the team in rebounding with nine.

The Wildcats host North Carolina A&T Monday.

HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG

"One possession game with 4:30 left, you have to be able to close. We missed some wide open shots and free throws."

"You have to make big shots to beat a number one team."

RICKY JOHNSON

"[NCCU'S] game plan was to not let me get the ball back."

"Once we took the lead, it gave us motivation. What got us to the lead was full court pressure and man."

"NCCU is disciplined. They didn't have a lot of breakdowns. That's good on their part."

NOTES: Bethune-Cookman now 0-9 after recording 51 or fewer total points...The Wildcats had a season-low two assists...B-CU did have fewer turnovers for the fourth straight game...The Wildcats have lost six straight at home...Johnson has been in double figures seven straight games..Stewart has led the team in scoring five times..Dear has led the team in rebounding six times.