DURHAM, N.C. – Senior Fred Cleveland Jr. earned his second double-double of the season and sophomore Po'Boigh King led all scorers with a career-high of 34 points for the North Carolina Central University men's basketball team in its 93-81 victory over Delaware State University on Monday evening.
NCCU (15-11, 7-4 MEAC) was missing two starters this game. With redshirt senior Ja'Darius Harris and sophomore Perry Smith Jr. out of the lineup, junior Keishon Porter stepped in and redshirt senior Emmanuel Izunabor made his second straight start.
The contest was tight at first as the lead wouldn't get into double digits in the first half of the game. Sharp shooting from DSU senior Martaz Robinson and freshman Deywilk Tavarez put the Hornets ahead 13-6 before the first media timeout.
Six straight points from King put NC Central within two points and a jumper from Cleveland tied the game. Both teams would tilt the score with NCCU leading most of the half.
Delaware State's (12-15, 5-6 MEAC) Robinson scored over his average before the end of the first half. The third leading scorer in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference had 23 points in the first 20 minutes and was the only Hornet in double figures.
The Eagles were up 40-38 at the half. Cleveland led the charge with 13 points and four assists. NCCU had a 14-8 advantage in the paint and scored 11 bench points as the Hornets would rely on their starters.
In the first five minutes of play in the second half, the Eagles would stretch the lead from two points to 14 before the 16-minute media timeout.
Contributions from sophomore Josh Smith and juniors Timmy Adedire and Keishon Porter would help extend the lead. Porter slammed home an alley-oop from Cleveland that excited the crowd at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Greek Night.
The closest the Hornets would come to shaving down the lead was seven points with under eight minutes remaining.
After only scoring nine points in the first half, DSU's Tavarez would finish with 21 points, joining Robinson who would only gain four points in the last 20 minutes.
NC Central finished with three scorers in double figures. Porter joined King and Cleveland to combine for 71 of NCCU's 93 points. King also grabbed eight rebounds and Izunabor had a game-high 11 rebounds as well as five blocks.
Cleveland finished with 25 points and 10 assists. King shot 11-of-12 from the free-throw line.
NCCU will travel to Baltimore, Md. next to take on Coppin State University and Morgan State University. The Eagles meet with Coppin State first on Saturday, March 2 at 4 p.m.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
