LASKER – Brian McLean lit up the scoreboard for 17 third-quarter points as the Northeast Academy Eagles defeated Rocky Mount Prep 63-49.

McLean stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for the layup to put Northeast on the board 2-0.

James Parker’s basket tied the score, but Buddy Duke’s go-ahead bucket put the Eagles ahead, a lead they would not relinquish.

The Eagles outscored Rocky Mount 9-1, including a three-point shot by Josh Jenkins, to take a 13-3 lead.

Two buckets in the final two minutes cut the Eagles lead to six (13-7) at the end of the first quarter.

Duke hit a foul shot and a deuce to start the second but Parker hit a Jaguar basket to keep Rocky Mount within seven.

Jeremy Canady put back the offensive rebound for two, followed by a Ryan Davis three and a bucket by Duke to extend the Eagles lead 23-9.

Rocky Mount hit two baskets but John Pope and Davis hit from beyond the arc to give Northeast a 29-13 lead at the half.

It was all McLean in the third as he scored 17 of Northeast’s 24 points in that period.

His final basket just before time expired gave the Eagles a 53-29 advantage.

Rocky Mount tried to mount a comeback in the final quarter with Rhyn McGee scoring 15 points in the final eight minutes, but it wasn’t enough as Northeast took the 63-49 victory.

McLean led the Eagles with 28 points, including 8-of-9 from the free throw line, two steals and three blocked shots.

Duke added 11 for Northeast.

Pope had three steals and Canady two as the Eagles forced 30 Jaguar turnovers.

&uot;Brian (McLean) took over in the third,&uot; said Eagles’ head coach John Brown.

&uot;He was forced to sit during part of the first and all of the second quarter due to foul trouble and that got him fired up.

&uot;We gave up more second shot opportunities than we should have,&uot; Brown continued.

&uot;It was a sloppy win and hopefully we can continue to improve our defensive play and ball movement.&uot;

In Junior Varsity action Northeast handed Rocky Mount a 42-26 loss.

Brandon Futrell led the Eagles with 13 points, followed by Hunter Deloatch with eight.

Northeast travels to Tarheel Independent Conference rival Lawrence Academy tonight.

Northeast (63):

Brian McLean – 28, Buddy Duke – 11, R. Davis – 6, J. Pope – 6, B. Harrell – 4, J. Jenkins – 3, J. Canady – 2, D. Pinnix – 2, P. Brown – 1

Rocky Mount Prep (49):

Rhyn McGee – 22, James Parker – 16, S. McNair – 5, J. Wadsworth – 3, J. Joyner – 2, D. Smith – 1