ORANGEBURG, S.C. – North Carolina Central University closed out the regular season with a 71-64 road victory over South Carolina State University on Thursday night, providing NCCU with its seventh straight win and a No. 2 seed in next week's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men's Basketball Tournament.

Senior center Brendan Medley-Bacon topped NCCU (17-11, 10-4 MEAC) with game-highs of 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots. The 7-footer's 56 rejections this season ranks third in the Eagles' records book.

NCCU also received double-figure scoring contributions from Marque Maultsby with 15 points and Justin Wright with 13 points. Eric Boone chipped in nine points and five steals.

The Eagles held a 33-23 advantage at intermission, but SC State rallied to even the score at 35-35 at 14:44 of the second half, and later took a 55-51 lead at the 8:05 mark.

NCCU responded by exploding for a 17-1 run, including eight points by Medley-Bacon, to regain control of the contest with a 68-56 cushion with just 2:38 remaining.

SC State (5-25, 2-12 MEAC) was paced by Lesown Hallums with 13 points and six boards.

As the No. 2 seed in the MEAC Tournament at the Norfolk (Va.) Scope Arena, NCCU will play Delaware State University on Wednesday, March 8, at 8 p.m.

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