DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's basketball team looks to bounce back from its first loss since Dec. 9. The Eagles will compete in their fourth and fifth Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games of the season as they travel to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday, Jan. 27 and Delaware State University on Monday, Jan. 29. The contest at UMES begins at 4 p.m. and DSU's game tips off at 7:30 p.m.

Full Game Notes – Game 19

(Updated game notes for the Delaware State game will be posted before Monday's game.)

Week 12 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore & Delaware State

2023-24 Regular Season

North Carolina Central (10-8, 2-1 MEAC)

at

Maryland Eastern Shore (5-12, 1-3 MEAC)

Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 – 4:00 p.m.

Hytche Arena – Princess Anne, Md.

Watch: Delmarva Sports Network  

Tickets: Purchase HERE

Follow: Live Stats

at

Delaware State (10-9, 3-0 MEAC)

Monday, Jan. 29, 2024 – 7:30 p.m.

Memorial Hall Gym – Dover, Del.

Watch: DESU-TV

Tickets: Purchase HERE

Follow: Live Stats

NC CENTRAL BENCH

Last time out, NCCU men's basketball suffered its first loss in MEAC play falling 71-68 at South Carolina State University on Jan. 20. Senior Ja'Darius Harris and sophomore Po'Boigh King each had 19 points to lead all scorers. The tight contest ended on a 24-7 run by SCSU in the second half.

Despite the results from the Eagles' game against the Bulldogs, NCCU stayed true to form on defense behind the arc. NC Central allowed only four made three-pointers from South Carolina State out of 18 attempts (22.2 percent). The Eagles are currently first in the nation in three-point percentage defense at 26.0 percent.

NCCU is currently top-50 in five additional categories in the nation, which include: fast break points (23^rd – 15.11 points per game), free throw attempts per game (48^th – 22.8 attempts per game), steals per game (48^th – 8.4 per game), turnover margin (40^th – +3.2) and turnovers forced per game (43^rd – 14.94).

The last meeting between Maryland Eastern Shore and NCCU was on Feb. 20, 2023 in Princess Anne, Md. The Eagles were victorious 68-63 adding to a 20-3 series lead between the two schools. NC Central took care of business last season against Delaware State winning 89-59 during the 2023 MEAC Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals.

MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE BENCH

Maryland Eastern Shore competed in a non-conference contest on Jan. 22 defeating Queens (N.Y.) 71-61 at home. The game's leading scorer was UMES sophomore Devon Ellis with 22 points. Hawks sophomore Kelechi Okworogwo had a double-double performance with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

The leading scorer and rebounder for Maryland Eastern Shore, Troy Hupstead, did not compete in the Hawks' last game. The junior is averaging 13.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. His rebounding average puts him in first place in the MEAC.

The only two categories that the Hawks are in the top-100 nationally are free throw percentage (68^th – 74.5 percent) and turnovers forced per game (87^th – 13.47). UMES' free throw percentage leads the MEAC.

DELAWARE STATE BENCH

Delaware State hosted Maryland Eastern Shore on Jan. 20 needing overtime to triumph 67-63 in Dover, Del. Senior guard Martaz Robinson scored 24 points against the Hawks and grabbed eight boards. Freshman Deywilk Tavarez followed with 19 points for the Hornets.

Robinson leads DSU in five different categories in the MEAC. Three of the most notable leading statistics are steals per game (1^st - 2.4), minutes played average (1^st - 36.1) and field goal percentage (3^rd - 44.2 percent). Tavarez is tied for second in the MEAC in assists per game with an 8.8 average.

The Hornets are the only undefeated team in conference play with a 3-0 record. They lead the league in turnovers forced per game (15.84) which is also 16^th in the nation. Delaware State is also 36^th in the nation in fast break points (14.26) and 40^th in steals per game (8.6)

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.