NORFOLK, Va. – March Madness has begun for NC Central's men's basketball team as the No.6 Eagles triumphed 79-77 by way of a buzzer beater from redshirt senior Isaac Parson over No.3 Delaware State on Thursday evening to advance to the semifinals in the MEAC Basketball Tournament.
Juniors Perry Smith Jr. and Po'Boigh King combined for 43 points in the contest. Smith was 7-of-9 from the field and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line, finishing with 22 points. King shot 60 percent, including four baskets from beyond the arc, totaling 21 points.
NCCU improves to 14-18 overall. This marks the first victory away from McDougald-McLendon Arena since Dec. 14 when the Eagles won at Longwood.
The Maroon & Gray have struggled from the free throw line this season but shot 21-of-25 from the charity stripe as Delaware State finished 16-of-26.
The game featured nine ties and four lead changes with the largest lead coming from NCCU in the second half up 10 with 13:33 remaining.
DSU would have their way in the paint scoring 50 points inside led by Muneer Newton, who finished with a game-high 27 points, but NCCU knocked down more threes than Delaware State with eight compared to three from the Hornets.
A timely three from DSU would come from Martaz Robinson after King stretched the lead to 77-74 with a free throw with 24 seconds left. After a miss, Robinson grabbed the offensive rebound tipped to the corner and nailed the shot to tie the game.
With 7.7 seconds remaining, the ball was inbounded to Parson a little behind him, so he gathered himself and raced down court. He dribbled down the right sideline and scooped the shot under the basket, finishing on the other side.
The ball took three bounces on the rim before falling, which gave the Eagles the 79-77 victory over the Hornets in the quarterfinals.
"We lost to them at the buzzer at their place," said head coach LeVelle Moton.
"I can go on and on with teams that we lost to at the buzzer. But tonight, the tide turned. I think when you're loyal and faithful to this process and respect this game, you tie your boots on and keep working each day, then the game rewards you also."
NC Central advances to the semifinals, facing No.2 South Carolina State on Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m. in Norfolk Scope Arena.
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