N.C. Central and N.C. A&T Clash in the Semifinals of MEAC Tournament
NORFOLK, V.A. – The No. 2 seed North Carolina A&T State Aggies and No. 3 seed North Carolina Central University Eagles battled in the MEAC Tournament semifinals Thursday night in a back-and-forth contest.
Both teams’ numbers were nearly identical in the fifth meeting between the programs in the tournament. The game featured three ties and 11 lead changes. Each team had 13 points off turnovers and six steals. The Aggies had 28 points in the paint and the Eagles had 26 points. However, numbers aside, the difference in this game was simple: N.C. Central made more big plays. That’s why they won 65-63.
Redshirt senior Larry McKnight made one of those big plays. He delivered in crunch time with a huge 3-pointer with 1:36 to give the Eagles (17-15, 10-6 MEAC) a 59-55 lead.
“That kids has given me everything I’ve ever asked for,” said N.C. Central head coach LeVelle Moton. “And as soon as he jabbed, and I saw six seconds left on the clock, as soon as he looked at the rim, I said, ‘Bingo!’ I knew it was a bucket when he shot it.”
In yesterday’s postgame press conference after the Eagle’s 75-57 victory over the Delaware State Hornets, redshirt senior center Raasean Davis said, “I’ll make sure I’ll be better tomorrow,” when asked about his team’s performance in their 74-54 loss to the Aggies (19-13, 13-3 MEAC) eight days ago.
Davis finished as the game’s leading scorer with 19 points and grabbed six rebounds. He started the game hot and shot 5-7 from the floor in the first half for 13 points.
“I just understand how important I am to my team,” said Davis. “I just tried to make myself available and just do whatever my team needed me to do; whether it was rebound, contest at the rim, finish – I just wanted to be available to my teammates in anyway.”
The Eagles’ second leading scorer during the regular season Randy Miller, Jr., caught fire in the second half. He shot 1-3 from the floor for two points in the first half and finished the game with 17 points.
“I was really just trying to let the game come to me,” Miller, Jr. said. “I knew that my teammates would find me if I’m open, so I was just really worried about us getting stops defensively. And when I got hot, I got hot.”
The Aggies couldn’t find a rhythm against the Eagles on offense. They took multiple shots late in the shot clock, and had a couple shot-clock violations. Aggies junior forward Ronald Jackson, who averaged 11 points in the regular season meeting between the schools: scored two points. Aggies sophomore guard Kameron Langley and fifth-year wingman Terry Harris were the only consistent sources of offense. They both led the team with 14 points.
“We just wanted to press them and make them make a play.” Moton said. “With these lights on, and this popcorn popping in front of the Scope: it’s a little bit different when all of the marbles are on the table. Not only for their guys, but for our guys. The cream has to rise to the top, and we were fortunate we did.”
What’s Next
The Eagles play the No.1 seed Norfolk State Spartans (21-12, 14-2 MEAC) tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game will be aired live on ESPN2/ESPN3.