NORFOLK, Va. – North Carolina Central University is heading back to the NCAA Tournament after knocking off top-seeded Hampton, 71-63 in a hard-fought MEAC Championship game at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
 
This is NCCU's (19-15) third MEAC Tournament Championship in the past five years, and the Eagles are now 3-0 in MEAC Championship games.
 
The Eagles and Hampton (17-15) went back-and-forth in the first half, and NCCU was propelled by Pablo Rivas (Colón, Panama) who put in 11 points.  However, Malique Trent-Street (Portsmouth, Va.) hit a long-range three-pointer right before the end of the half to give the Pirates a 28-27 advantage at the half.
 
NCCU started the second half on an 11-2 run, and pulled ahead of Hampton 38-30 on some big treys from John Guerra (Cary, N.C.) and Rivas.  Hampton immediately shrunk the lead, and eventually went on an 8-0 run to take a one-point lead at 53-52 with 7:30 remaining.
 
The game stayed locked together for the next three minutes, but then the Eagles ripped off an 11-0 run in the last minute-and-a-half to create enough space to seal the victory.
 
Rivas chipped in a game-high 22 points with five rebounds, and Guerra provided a big spark with 12 points and five rebounds.  Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) dished out a game-high nine assists with 13 points.
 
Hampton was led by Trent-Street (Portsmouth, Va.) who put in 15 points, and both Kalin Fisher (Chicago, Ill.) and Akim Mitchell (Charlotte, N.C.) put in 11.
 
Raasean Davis (Chicago, Ill.) and Rivas were both named to the All-Tournament team, and Rivas was named Most Outstanding Performer.  NCCU head coach LeVelle Moton was also named Most Outstanding Coach.
 
The Eagles will find out their next opponent on Sunday, March 11 and fans are welcome to learn who that opponent will be with the team during a Selection Show Party at the A.E. Student Union, and doors will open at 5:00 p.m.