DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central men's basketball team opens the new year by hosting Norfolk State on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 4:30 p.m. inside McDougald-McLendon Arena. The matchup marks the first conference game of the season.
Game 16:
NCCU (4-11, 0-0 MEAC)
vs Norfolk State (6-10, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 – 4:30 p.m.
McDougald-McLendon Arena – Durham, N.C.
Tickets | Live Stats | ESPN+
Series History: Saturday will be the 57th meeting between NC Central and Norfolk State. The Spartans lead the series 36-20. Both teams split their home-and-home series last season as Norfolk State won with a buzzer-beater at Echols Hall, while the Eagles were victorious in overtime in the Nest.
Scouting Norfolk State: The Spartans are 6-10 this season and lead the MEAC in scoring (74.9), team field goal percentage (.454), opponent field goal percentage (.437) and team rebounds (36.6). Anthony McComb III averages 16.3 points and 4.9 rebounds to lead Norfolk State. The Spartans are coming off eight consecutive road games, which included neutral-site games at the Chris Paul HBCU Challenge and the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, as well as trips to Baylor and Arizona. NSU was 2-6 in that stretch and hasn't played in a home contest since Nov. 25 against Virginia-Lynchburg.
Last Time Out: After a strong start for the Eagles, North Carolina Central couldn't keep the pace as Penn State took control, defeating NCCU 90-67 at the Bryce Jordan Center on Monday afternoon. Khouri Carvey had a team-high 13 points and nine rebounds. Kyric Davis (10), Dionte Johnson (11) and Kelechi Okworogwo (11) joined Carvey in double figures. NCCU wrapped up non-conference play without starter and leading scorer Gage Lattimore due to injury. It was a game of runs as NC Central was up 17-6 early before Penn State closed the gap to lead 36-33 at half. Costly turnovers staggered the Eagles' start to the second half, as the Nittany Lions pulled away.
MEAC's Back: After a challenging non-conference schedule, the Eagles are now set for Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. NCCU hosts its first MEAC game of the 2025-26 season, welcoming the 2025 conference champs, Norfolk State. After Saturday's contest, NC Central is away in Baltimore at Coppin State (Jan. 10) and Morgan State (Jan. 12) before returning home for three straight games in the Nest.
Non-Conference Recap: NCCU ended the calendar year with its final contest in the non-conference schedule at Penn State on Dec. 29. The Eagles went 4-11 and are still searching for their first road and Division I triumph. In the victories, NC Central won by an average of 38.5 points per game, and in the losses, the Eagles fell by an average of 22.5 points per game. NCCU had close losses at James Madison and at home against North Carolina A&T and Longwood.
MEAC Minute: So far, NC Central has earned five different MEAC weekly honors. Khouri Carvey was named Defensive Player of the Week on two separate occasions, while Dionte Johnson was also tabbed for the same award. Gage Lattimore has been the only Eagle to win the MEAC Player of the Week, which he collected twice. Lattimore moved up to first in the conference in scoring (19.2 ppg). Carvey tops rebounding (6.9 rpg) and field goal percentage (.584). Johnson remains first in assists (5.4 apg) and steals (2.9 spg), while Carvey and Kelechi Okworogwo share the top spot for blocks in the MEAC (1.1 bpg).
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