ORANGEBURG, S.C. – After winning two consecutive games at home, the North Carolina Central University men's basketball team was tripped up early after a slow start and eventually fell 87-71 at South Carolina State University on Thursday evening at the SHM Memorial Center.

Guard Floyd Rideau Jr. scored a team-high 14 points, his second highest point total in conference play. Rideau was 4-of-7 from the field, all four field goals from beyond the arc.

Isaac Parson (12), Po'Boigh King (10) and Perry Smith Jr. (11) all finished in double figures. King and Smith each grabbed six rebounds and Parson was on par with his average dishing out four assists.

NC Central concludes the regular season 13-18 overall with a 6-8 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record. NCCU split the series with SCSU as each team won at home.

After tying up the game 2-2 in the opening minutes, South Carolina State went on a 33-15 run causing the Eagles to call a timeout with 8:10 remaining in the first half. During that timeframe, the Bulldogs went 13-of-19 from the field, knocking down 4-of-6 three-pointers, while NC Central went 6-of-17 and were 1-of-8 from beyond the arc.

NCCU ended the first half down 43-27 with work to do in the final 20 minutes to cut into the lead.

NC Central would evenly match SC State as both teams scored 44 points in the second half, but it wasn't enough to regain the lead as the Maroon and Gray dropped the contest, 87-71.

SCSU's (18-12, 11-3 MEAC) Omar Croskey finished with a game-high 26 points and nine rebounds to lead the Bulldogs.

The Eagles finish the regular season sixth in the conference looking ahead to the 2025 MEAC Basketball Tournament at the Norfolk Scope Arena on March 12-15.

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