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GREENSBORO -- In just the fifth week of the season, the N.C. A&T football program is already light years ahead of where it's been in recent memory.

But nevertheless, the Aggies suffered some growing pains Saturday night.

A&T kept it interesting until the final minutes, but Coastal Carolina ultimately held on for a 20-7 win at Aggie Stadium in the first-ever meeting between the schools.

The Aggies, trying to move to 3-0 at home for the first time since 2003, fell to 2-3 overall.

Coastal, of the Big South Conference, moved to 3-2.

"When you feel like you're right there to win them, it's tough," Aggie coach Lee Fobbs said. "There's a lot of heads hung in that locker room right now, but when they leave they need to be held up high because we have to line up again next week."

Coastal Carolina kept the Aggies alive with missed opportunities, but unfortunately, A&T usually returned the favor.

The Chanticleers marched down the field on their opening drive, but A&T forced a fumble and recovered near midfield. The Aggies then gave it right back three plays later when Keon Cunningham returned a Herb Miller interception down to the Aggie 17-yard line to set up William Richardson's 1-yard touchdown plunge.

The Aggies threatened again early in the second quarter, but Miller's pass into the end zone was picked off by Josh Norman just before he fell out of bounds.

Trailing 10-0 coming out of the locker room, the Aggies finally looked as if they would get on the board.

A&T took over at the Coastal 31 on its first offensive possession of the second half, but the Chanticleers stuffed running back Dione McNair three times from inside the 5 and stood up Miller at the goal line on fourth down.

"When you get it down to the 1-yard line, I mean, dang -- you got to score those," Fobbs said. "You've got to put it in the end zone."

But the momentum quickly shifted two plays later. Richardson blindly threw out of his own end zone to try to avoid a safety, but linebacker Jamison Hedgepeth swooped in and caught the wayward pass for a touchdown.

The Aggies couldn't maintain the momentum.

Coastal answered with a field goal on the next drive to make it 13-7 and put the nail in the coffin with a seven-play, 80-yard scoring drive with 5:22 left.

"It hurts -- we thought we had a good grip on this game," said Hedgepeth, who also recovered a fumble. "We just have to learn to finish. It's a bitter taste in my mouth and my teammates' mouths."

The Chanticleers dominated statistically, especially on the ground. Coastal rushed for 243 yards while holding the Aggies to just 77 yards on 45 carries.

A&T was without top rusher Michael Ferguson, sidelined with a high ankle sprain, but the air attack was also ineffective.

Miller completed just 9 of 19 passes, threw two interceptions and ran for his life on nearly every drop back. The Chanticleers sacked Miller eight times.

Fobbs commended his team's defensive effort, but stressed every aspect had to improve to win games.

"I thought our defense played well at times -- they gave us a chance -- but it boils down to a team effort and we didn't get it tonight, totally," he said.

"These guys have matured to where they're not going to accept (losing). Coming close don't count. They don't go into the record book as, 'we came close'. You either win it or you lose it."

Coastal Carolina 7 3 3 7 -- 20

N.C. A&T 0 0 7 0 -- 7

CCar--Richardson 1 run (Durham kick)

CCar--FG Durham 31

NCAT--J.Hedgepeth 0 interception return (Houston kick)

CCar--FG Durham 22

CCar--Richardson 22 run (Durham kick)

A--2,062.

Coastal Carolina N.C. A&T

First downs 16 13

Rushes-yards 43-243 45-77

Passing 108 69

Comp-Att-Int 8-17-2 9-19-2

Return Yards 32 29

Punts-Avg. 4-38.8 9-40.2

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 6-44 8-61

Time of Possession 27:24 32:36

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Coastal Carolina, Sitton 13-77, Fordham 8-69, Richardson 6-44, Frye 3-26, Childers 4-17, Gause 6-15, Team 3-(minus 5). N. Carolina A&T, D.McNair 23-71, Parnell 3-8, Tomlin 2-4, Cosby 2-(minus 3), Miller 15-(minus 3).

PASSING--Coastal Carolina, Richardson 8-14-2-108, Childers 0-3-0-0. N. Carolina A&T, Miller 9-19-2-69.

RECEIVING--Coastal Carolina, Whitley 4-40, Sitton 1-27, Jones 1-22, Graham 1-14, Morgan 1-5. N. Carolina A&T, Dawson 5-54, Lowrance 2-22, D.McNair 1-2, Christen 1-(minus 9).