Porter Leads NC Central To Big Win Over MACU

DURHAM, N.C. – Senior guard Keishon Porter of the North Carolina Central University men’s basketball team earned his first career double-double in Tuesday’s 112-67 win against Mid-Atlantic Christian University in McDougald-McLendon Arena. Porter had 25 points (4-of-6 from three) and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes.

Joining Porter in double figures was junior forward Kelechi Okworogwo (13) and redshirt senior guards Aquan Smart (14) and Floyd Rideau Jr. (12). Redshirt senior Isaac Parson passed for 10 assists.

NCCU has improved to 6-8 on the season with three games remaining in the non-conference schedule.

Mid-Atlantic Christian kept it close to begin the game. At the halfway point in the period, the Mustangs were only down by five points until Rideau opened the lead with two back-to-back threes for a 29-18 lead causing MACU to call a timeout.

The Mustangs trimmed the lead down to six with 7:17 remaining in the first half. Three-pointers from senior wing Timmy Adedire, junior guard Po’Boigh King and Porter as well as second-chance points and free throws extended the lead 55-34 to end the half. Porter already had 19 points through the first 20 minutes.

In the first five minutes of the second half, the lead would blossom to 26 points as the Eagles capitalized off more second-chance points and fast break opportunities.

With 15 minutes remaining, head coach LeVelle Moton took out his starters and the bench shined. Rideau Jr., Smart, Okworogwo and junior forward Jaqai Murray all had impactful minutes.

Junior forward Anthony Peoples Jr. saw his first game action this season scoring eight points on 3-of-4 shooting.

NCCU would go on to win 112-67 over MACU. Porter led all scorers with a season-high 25 points.

MACU’s Tyus Williams led the Mustangs with 16 points.

Both teams shot over 50 percent with NC Central going 56.8 percent from the field. Most of MACU’s points came in the paint with 48 compared to 54 points by the Eagles.

NCCU had 60 bench points, 31 fastbreak points and 30 points off Mustang turnovers.

The Eagles face a familiar foe next game hosting Longwood University on Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. NCCU just played Longwood last Saturday and defeated the Lancers 77-70 in Farmville, Va.