DOVER, Del. – Redshirt senior Aquan Smart of the North Carolina Central University men's basketball team scored five of the final seven points in regulation to help send Monday's game against Delaware State University to overtime before falling 86-84 to the Hornets in Memorial Hall Gym. Smart hit a near halfcourt shot with one second remaining to tie the game at 75 for an extra five minutes of basketball.
Junior guard Po'Boigh King and forward Perry Smith Jr. combined for 43 points, scoring 23 and 20 points, respectively. Smith earned his third double-double of the season collecting a game-high 13 rebounds.
The Eagles are now 11-16 with a 4-6 record in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action. NC Central only has two more road games and two home games remaining.
After being up by as much as 16 points in the first half, the Maroon & Gray went into halftime up 41-32.
DSU (14-12, 6-5 MEAC) took the lead (66-64) for the first time with 1:50 remaining in the second half after chipping away at NCCU's lead.
With a 70-68 advantage over the Eagles, Smart had a steal with 17 seconds remaining in regulation and made the layup as the Hornets were unable to inbound the ball away from NC Central's basket.
DSU's Martaz Robinson would have four shots on the free throw line after a personal foul was called as well as a technical foul while he was on the line as NCCU had too many players on the court. Robinson made all four to lead 74-70 with five seconds left.
Redshirt senior guard Floyd Rideau Jr. nailed a long shot believed to be a three-pointer until a review showed his foot on the line as he was fouled for a three-point play instead of a four-point play.
Rideau attempted to miss the free throw on purpose but didn't hit the rim giving Delaware State the ball back as a quick foul sent James Ponce to the line for the Hornets, splitting a pair of attempts.
Smart came down the full length of the floor and swished a near halfcourt shot beating the buzzer for a 75-75 ending to regulation.
The Eagles were down early in overtime before Smith hit a turnaround alley-oop layup from Smart. Smith was fouled on the shot and tied the game at 82 after making the free throw.
With 37 seconds remaining in overtime, King was fouled as the Eagles trailed by two. He made both shots at the charity stripe tying the game 84-84.
After Smith blocked DSU's shot attempt out of bounds with four seconds on the clock, the Hornets lost the ball on the drive until Javarzia Belton found the ball and put it through the net for Delaware State leaving the Eagles with 0.3 seconds. The Eagles would fall 86-84 in overtime.
Robert Smith of Delaware State led all scorers with 24 points. This was the Hornets' second straight overtime game after South Carolina State needed extra time to defeat DSU on Saturday.
NC Central will remain in the area for a make-up game at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m., after Saturday's game between the two programs was postponed due to inclement weather.
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