DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's basketball team bounced back after Tuesday's double-overtime heartbreak at Morgan State defeating the University of Maryland Eastern Shore 88-69 in McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday evening.
Senior guard Keishon Porter and junior guard Po'Boigh King both finished with 23 points for game-highs. The duo had five and four rebounds, respectively.
Redshirt senior Isaac Parson also joined the pair in double figures with 13 points along with five assists.
The Eagles are now 8-12 overall this season after clinching their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference triumph after two tough losses on the road. Head coach LeVelle Moton described the physicality of conference play stating, "Life in the MEAC is really difficult night in and night out."
NC Central didn't take long to make its presence felt holding UMES to 5-of-26 from the field in the first half.
To close the half, Porter and King each had 19 points leading the Eagles 54-17. NCCU shot 57.6 percent (19-of-33) from the field including eight three-pointers on 14 attempts.
UMES (4-14, 0-2 MEAC) was close to tripling the amount scored in the first period, cashing in at the free throw line towards the end of the game for 52 points in the final 20 minutes.
The Hawks' point total wasn't enough as the Eagles came out on top 88-69.
NCCU had 17 assists including five apiece from the conference assist co-leaders Parson and junior guard Dionte Johnson.
With advantages in points off turnovers (30-15), fastbreak points (19-8) and rebounding (35-26), the Maroon & Gray never trailed, leading by as much as 40 points early in the second period. The Eagles shot 54.5 percent on the day.
"Defense is where we've always hung our hats; it's been a staple of this program and who we are," said Moton. "We are just trying to get a complete unit to buy in on one end of the floor and have some pride, and tonight I thought we did a good job."
The Eagles held the leading scorer in the MEAC K.C. Shaw to 15 points. Coming into the game, Shaw was averaging 18.9 points in his first season with the Hawks.
Shaw is a familiar face to Parson as they were teammates at their former school Winston-Salem State University. NCCU alum and UMES head coach Cleo Hill Jr. was the coach there before moving to the MEAC this season.
The next challenge for NCCU is Delaware State University on Monday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
