NCCU MBB Struggles on the Road as UMES Snaps Losing Streak
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – North Carolina Central University’s road woes continued Wednesday night as the Eagles fell 68-59 to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) at Hytche Arena. This season, NCCU remains winless in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) road games.
Junior forward Perry Smith Jr. led the Eagles with 18 points and eight rebounds, shooting an efficient 7-of-10 from the field. Junior guard Po’Boigh King added 15 points in the loss.
NCCU (11-17, 4-7 MEAC) held a 33-27 halftime lead but struggled to close out the game, allowing UMES (5-22, 1-10 MEAC) to break a conference losing streak. The Hawks outscored the Eagles 24-11 in the final stretch, securing their first MEAC win of the season and first victory over NCCU since 2023.
The Eagles briefly regained control with a jumper from King, putting them ahead 48-44 with 13:25 left, but UMES responded with a dominant run and never trailed again. Hawks guard Evan Johnson led all scorers with 19 points.
Key Stats:
- NCCU shot 35.9% from the field and struggled at the free-throw line, making just 9-of-17 attempts.
- UMES capitalized on free throws, going 17-of-21 from the stripe.
- The Eagles were outmuscled on the boards, getting outrebounded 46-33.
- NCCU forced 18 turnovers while committing just nine.
The Eagles will look to bounce back at home against Howard University on Saturday, March 1, at 4 p.m. in McDougald-McLendon Arena. Senior Day celebrations will honor six players before tipoff.
For more on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
Photo: NCCU Athletics/Doug Burt