NCCU Men’s Basketball Secures First MEAC Win with Dominant Performance Against UMES
DURHAM, NC – The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) men’s basketball team rebounded from Tuesday’s double-overtime loss with a commanding 88-69 victory over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday evening. The win marked the Eagles’ first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) triumph of the season, improving their overall record to 8-12 (1-2 MEAC).
Dynamic Duo Leads the Charge
Senior guard Keishon Porter and junior guard Po’Boigh King delivered standout performances, each contributing a game-high 23 points. Porter added five rebounds to his stat line, while King chipped in four boards. Redshirt senior guard Isaac Parson also made a significant impact with 13 points and a team-high five assists, sharing the floor-general duties with junior guard Dionte Johnson, who also recorded five assists.
Early Domination Sets the Tone
NCCU asserted its dominance early, holding UMES to just 5-of-26 shooting from the field in the first half. The Eagles’ relentless defense stifled the Hawks, and their offensive precision resulted in a 54-17 halftime lead. Porter and King led the first-half offensive explosion with 19 points each, helping NCCU shoot an impressive 57.6 percent (19-of-33) from the floor, including 8-of-14 from beyond the arc.
“We’ve always hung our hats on defense; it’s been a staple of this program,” head coach LeVelle Moton said. “Tonight, I thought we did a good job. We’re trying to get everyone to buy into that identity and play with pride on the defensive end.”
Second-Half Efforts Fall Short for UMES
UMES nearly tripled its first-half point total in the second period, thanks to consistent trips to the free-throw line. However, their 52 points in the final 20 minutes were not enough to overcome the Eagles’ dominant start.
MEAC leading scorer K.C. Shaw, who came into the contest averaging 18.9 points per game, was limited to 15 points. Parson, a former teammate of Shaw at Winston-Salem State University, helped anchor the defensive effort against the Hawks’ star.
Team Effort on Both Ends
The Eagles maintained control throughout the game, never trailing and leading by as many as 40 points early in the second half. NCCU’s balanced attack featured 17 assists, with contributions from multiple players. They also excelled in transition and on the boards, outscoring UMES in fastbreak points (19-8) and winning the rebounding battle (35-26).
“Our defensive intensity created opportunities on offense,” said Moton. “When we’re locked in like that, we’re tough to beat.”
Next Challenge
The Eagles will look to build on this momentum as they host Delaware State University on Monday, Jan. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
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Feature Photo: Keishon Porter courtesy of Kevin Dorsey