2022-23 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL 
(#7) "HORNETS" (6-23; 4-10 MEAC) vs. (#2) NC Central  "EAGLES" (17–11; 10-4 MEAC)
Wed. Mar. 8, 2023 - 8:00 p.m.
MEAC Tournament Quarterfinal     
(Norfolk, Va, - Scope Arena  - 11,000)
Live Video: MEAChoops.com; Live Audio: HSRN.com (DSU Broadcast)
THE GAME 
Delaware State (6-23; 4-10 MEAC) looks for a reversal of fortunes in the tournament after dropping their last three games and six of the final seven to end the regular season. Four of the  losses were by six points or less, including a one-point overtime setback (86-85) to MEAC regular season champ Howard on Feb. 11. The Hornets are led by junior guard Martaz Robinson, a 2023 All-MEAC Third Team selection. Robinson is tops on the Hornets and ninth in the MEAC in scoring at 11.8 points per game this season. He was also eighth in the league in rebounding (5.6 pg) and assists (2.7 pg), seventh in steals and third in free throw percentage (.826) during the regular season. Brandon Stone, who has missed several games of late with a knee injury, is second on the team in scoring at 11.4 points and in rebounding at 5.1 per game. Staten is the Hornets' third-leading scorer at 9.1 points per game. Point guard Corey Perkins  has a team-high 112 assists, while O'Koye Parker tops the team with 39 three-point field goals on 90 attempts (.433). Freshman guard Jevin Muniz is a 2022-23 MEAC All-Rookie selection.  Muniz averaged 7.5 points per game to rank fifth on the Hornets during the regular season. He also ranks14th in the MEAC in assists (2.3 pg) and 18th in steals (1.2 pg) this season.
 
NC Central (16-12; 8-5 MEAC) enters the tournament as the MEAC's hottest team, winning its last seven games to climb to second place in the final regular season standings. The Eagles are second in the MEAC in scoring at 75.5 points per game, and tops the league in defense, allowing 65.9 points per game, including just 64.4 in conference games. NC Central is led by two MEAC top eight scorers. Justin Wright is fourth in the league with a 16.0 point per-game average, while Brendan Medley-Bacon is eighth at 12.1 points per game. Kris Monroe leads the team in rebounding at 5.6 per game to rank sixth in the
MEAC, while Medley-Bacon is seventh (5.6) and Wright 10th at 5.0. Medley-Bacon also has a league-high 56 blocks (2.0 pg) this season.                                    
 
THE SERIES  (NCCU leads 32-17, including 3-2 in MEAC Tournament)
This is the third meeting between the Hornets and Eagles this season. North Carolina Central took both regular season contests, winning 74-55 on Jan. 21 in Durham, N.C., and 66-58 on Feb. 18 in Dover, Del., to stretch its win streak to seven in the series. This will be the sixth MEAC Tournament contest between the Hornets and Eagles. North Carolina Central has won the last two contests to hold a 3-2 lead in tournament meetings. The Eagles won the last contest 92-75 in the 2020 tournament quarterfinals.

DSU v NCCU MEAC Tournament results
1975           DSU 77      NCCU 57                       1977           NCCU 66   DSU 65
2015           DSU 63      NCCU 57                       2019           NCCU 75   DSU 57
2020           NCCU 92   DSU 75