NORFOLK, Va. -- Jeremy Ingram scored 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting as North Carolina Central hung on Thursday night for a 76-70 win over Norfolk State.

Leading by 3 at the break, N.C. Central (25-5, 15-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) used a 16-5 run capped by an Emanuel Champman jumper to build its largest lead of the game, 68-53, with 4 minutes to go.

But Norfolk State (17-13, 11-5) battled back, scoring 13 of the next 16 points, pulling to within 71-66 on a Pendarvis Williams layup with 36 seconds left before the drive stalled. The first-place Eagles protected what was left of their lead from the free throw line down the stretch.

Jordan Parks contributed 14 points, Chapman finished with 13 and Alfonzo Houston had 10 for NCCU, which shot 53 percent from the field to win its 17th straight game.

Malcolm Hawkins led the Spartans with 31 points and six rebounds.