C.J. Reed scored 21 points to lead four Bethune-Cookman players in double figures as the Wildcats defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore, 86-50, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Monday night.
The victory moved the Wildcats (15-11, 9-3) into a share of the top spot in the MEAC standings with Hampton, also now 9-3 after Monday's loss to North Carolina A&T. Bethune-Cookman's next game is Saturday at Hampton.
Maryland-Eastern Shore (6-19, 3-9), which lost its 12th consecutive road game, was led by 11 points each from Tyler Hines and Hillary Haley. They were the only Hawks in double figures.
Joining Reed in double figures for Bethune-Cookman were Alexander Starling with 18 points, Garrius Holloman with 17 and Kevin Dukes with 10. Reed also notched five assists, three steals and six rebounds while nailing 9 of 10 free throws.
The Wildcats, who had the hot hand early, took the lead for good on Reed's basket at 16:57 of the first half and never looked back.
An 11-0 Bethune-Cookman run pushed the Wildcats to a 25-11 advantage with 8:56 to go before halftime. Another big run, this one 16-0, enabled the hosts to go up by 26, 41-15, at 1:50 of the first period.
They settled for a 44-19 halftime margin after shooting a torrid 60.9 percent (14-for-23) during the first period. The Hawks managed only a bleak 30.8 shooting percentage in the first half, hitting only 8 of 26 shots.
Reed and crew continued to pour it on during the second half, producing their largest margin, 36 points, at the game's end.
The Wildcats led the rebounding chart, 38-27, with Starling grabbing nine boards. Hines took eight rebounds for the Hawks.
Bethune-Cookman has won 10 of its last 13 games; Maryland-Eastern Shore has lost seven of its last nine.
