DURHAM, N.C. – Junior Keishon Porter of the North Carolina Central University men's basketball team exploded for 37 points to lead all scorers and etch a new season-high in Thursday's 79-68 victory over South Carolina State University. The Eagles would need a win to help seal seeding for the upcoming Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament.
The game began with an emotional tribute to fallen Eagle Devin Butts as his family was in attendance to take part in "DB Day." The NCCU players have been playing with "DB 52" patches on their jerseys all season to honor Butts, dedicating the season to him.
NCCU (17-12, 9-5 MEAC) opened the game scoring first with South Carolina State fighting back with a three-pointer. With the first four minutes played, SCSU was up 7-6 before the first media timeout.
South Carolina State's lead stretched to eight points with under 10 minutes remaining. After shots fell from sophomores Po'Boigh King, Josh Smith and Perry Smith Jr., NCCU was down 24-18 with seven minutes left in the first half.
Porter went on an 11-0 run as Fred Cleveland Jr. dished to Porter for a three-pointer three times in a row from the same spot behind the arc. King followed suit making two threes of his own with passes coming from Cleveland as the Eagles went up 35-30 with under two minutes remaining.
NC Central would lead the Bulldogs 38-33 as Ja'Darius Harris hit the last free throw of the half. The Eagles shot 60 percent from the field through the first 20 minutes. Porter led all scorers at the half with 16 points and King had 15. Cleveland had six rebounds and five assists.
South Carolina State (14-17, 9-5 MEAC) would come within two points of the lead to start the second half and after the 16-minute media timeout, but that was the closest the Bulldogs would come.
NCCU expanded the lead through the last 20 minutes of play with SCSU not allowing the game to get beyond double figures until the end.
Porter continued to chip in and junior Timmy Adedire played crucial minutes to keep the lead in the hands of the Eagles.
The Bulldogs drew within three points on five occasions, including the final two minutes. Adedire and redshirt senior Ja'Darius Harris iced the game with free throws as NC Central won by double figures 79-68, splitting the regular season matchup with South Carolina State.
Porter had five rebounds to go along with his 37 points. King finished with 18 points and Adedire was the final Eagle in double figures scoring 12. Cleveland led NCCU with eight rebounds and six assists.
SCSU's leading scorer was Raquan Brown had 19 points. Omar Croskey led all players with nine rebounds for the Bulldogs.
With Thursday night's win and a Norfolk State University victory over Howard University, NCCU heads into the 2024 MEAC Basketball Tournament next week as the No. 2 seed playing on Wednesday, March 13 against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The remainder of the bracket will be released soon.
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