North Carolina Central recorded its sixth straight win, handing Norfolk State a 60-58 loss at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Monday evening. The Eagles went into halftime trailing 35-29 but outscored the Spartans by eight points in the second half to come back and win.
Ja’Darius Harris scored a game-high 20 points to lead the way for North Carolina Central. The Eagles’ offense was able to overcome shooting struggles in this one, accumulating their 60 points on 34% shooting from the field. However, they did maximize their opportunities, turning the ball over just 11 times (14% of possessions).
Jamarii Thomas recorded 18 points and five rebounds, and Allen Betrand contributed another 10 points to pace Norfolk State. As a team, the Spartans had some offensive struggles, scoring just 0.89 points per possession on 35% shooting from the field. It was a forgettable game from three-point range as the team collectively shot 1-of-16 from deep.
- North Carolina Central scored a season-low seven points off the bench
- It was a rough second-half scoring performance for Norfolk State, 23 points marked a season-low
- 2,162 cheering fans showed up to McDougald-McLendon Arena in attendance
North Carolina Central proved once again that it is a tough matchup. A battle with MEAC foe South Carolina State is the Eagles’ next test. They will meet on Jan. 20 at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Norfolk State took its first loss in conference play. The Spartans will look for redemption in their next game against Virginia-Lynchburg, which has been struggling recently. That one is on Jan. 15 at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall.
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