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| Lamont Middleton and NC A&T have recorded several non-conference wins so far. (NC A&T photo) |
Non-conference basketball is always pretty tough for MEAC teams, and so far this year has been no exception. As of Jan. 7, only one team, North Carolina Central is even at .500 this season.
North Carolina A&T (6-9) has recorded several non-conference wins, including a 90-79 victory over crosstown-rival UNC Greensboro on Nov. 28. A&T’s resume also includes wins against Campbell, Eastern Kentucky and Radford. Delaware State (6-9) has recorded wins over Marshall and Delaware.
After starting off the season with a 5-3 record, defending regular season champion Savannah State has lost six in a row, including it’s MEAC opener to Norfolk State. Morgan State also came out of the gate strong with back-to-back wins over Liberty and Virginia Military Institute, but the Bears have yet to win a game since November.
Despite losing Kyle O’Quinn to the NBA, Norfolk State looks like it may still be the team to beat in the MEAC. The Spartans schedule has been pretty tough, as they have run into two teams ranked in the Top 25, NC State and Illinois. Still, they beat Navy, UMBC and Longwood, and fell just short against Ball State. They’ve also began the MEAC season 2-0 with wins against Savannah State and SC State.
Perhaps Norfolk State’s biggest challenge will come from NCCU. NCCU defeated its arch-rival NC A&T in a highly anticipated MEAC opener and has won two of its last three games over Utah Valley and Winthrop, respectively. The Eagles have two of the MEAC’s top six scorers on their team in Jeremy Ingram and Kidd Stauton.
Key Games:
NC A&T @ Bethune-Cookman
Hampton @ Howard
NCCU @ FAMU