DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's basketball team is set to close out the regular season at home on Thursday, March 7. The Eagles will host South Carolina State University at 7:30 p.m. NCCU is currently third in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings with the Bulldogs ahead in a second-place tie.
Full Game Notes: Game 29 vs South Carolina State
Week 18 vs. South Carolina State
2023-24 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (16-12, 8-5 MEAC)
vs
South Carolina State (14-16, 9-4 MEAC)
Thursday, March 7, 2024 – 7:30 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena – Durham, N.C.
Watch: NCCUSN
Tickets: Purchase HERE
Follow: Live Stats
NC CENTRAL BENCH
Last time out, the North Carolina Central team was defeated 88-79 at Morgan State University on March 4. This was the second time the Eagles suffered a loss at the hands of the Bears. Senior Fred Cleveland Jr. went off for 27 points and passed for six assists. Junior Keishon Porter and sophomore Po'Boigh King also finished in double figures.
Cleveland was also a part of history last weekend, passing for 15 assists in his double-double performance at Coppin State University on March 2. His assist total is a new Division I record for North Carolina Central University, one shy of Darnell Evans' record made in 1982.
The Eagles are currently the second-best team in the nation in three-point percentage. NC Central allows only 27.7 percent from opponents behind the arc tied with Utah State and behind Louisiana (27.6 percent).
On the final home game of the season, NCCU men's basketball will honor the life of Devin Butts who passed away last year. All season long the Eagles have been wearing a patch with "DB52" on their jerseys to honor their teammate. Redshirt senior Ja'Darius Harris also switched his number this season to 52 to honor and remember Butts.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BENCH
The South Carolina State Bulldogs are on a five-game winning streak heading into Thursday night's game. SCSU defeated Coppin State University on March 4 with a 61-58 victory in Baltimore, Md. Mitchell Taylor scored 14 points off the bench to lead the Bulldogs.
South Carolina State sits high in multiple categories nationally. The Bulldogs are first in the country in bench points per game (36.70) and fourth in offensive rebounds per game (14.90). They lead the MEAC in both categories. SCSU is also 18th in the nation in turnovers forced per game.
The last time the Bulldogs faced off with the Eagles was in Orangeburg, S.C. when NCCU fell 71-68, snapping the Eagles' three-game streak against South Carolina State. However, NC Central leads the series 18-4.
The MEAC standings have had little separation throughout the season. As of now, Norfolk State University is in first place (10-3, MEAC) while South Carolina State and Howard University are tied for second (9-4, MEAC). The Eagles are sitting in third (8-5, MEAC) and can move up with a win.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
