Dover, Del. (Feb. 17, 2023) --- Justin Wright led a balanced scoring attack with 14 points in North Carolina Central's 66-58 MEAC victory over Delaware State in Memorial Hall today. The Eagles won their third straight game to improve to 13-11 overall and 6-4 in the MEAC. The Hornets dropped their third in a row to fall to 5-20 and 3-7. Reserve Cameron Stitt was the only double-figure scorer for Delaware State, coming off then bench to score 11 points, tying his second-best output of the season. Stitt also led all players with 11 rebounds to record his first career double-double. The contest featured a total of 48 fouls, 25 for NCCU and 23 on the Hornets. Three Delaware State players fouled out in the game, and one for the Eagles.
The Hornets scored the first four points of the game, but North Carolina Central answered with a 11-0 run to grab the lead for good, although Delaware State pulled to within a point in the second half. The Eagles led 32-25 at the break, but Delaware State scored nine of the first 12 points of the second half, and pulled to within 35-34 after on a follow-up basket by Stitt with 16:30 left to play.
North Carolina Central bounced back to regain a double-digit lead later in the half. Eagles pulled ahead 53-42 on a free throw by Fred Cleveland with 7:12 remaining in the game.
The Hornets rallied again, cutting the deficit to 59-56 on a lay-up by Stitt at the 3:15 mark of the second half, but could get no closer the rest of the way.
Delaware State was plagued by poor three-point shooting in the contest, failing to hit a three for the first time this season, coming up empty on 16 attempts. NC Central was five-for-12 from beyond the arc.
The Hornets are back in action on Monday (Feb. 20), hosting South Carolina State at 7:30 p.m., following the Delaware State / SC State women's contest.