By Noah Goodin
It’s been a wild year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) so far, as the 2020-21 season approaches the holidays. This week’s slate of games will feature some games against Power Five schools, solid mid-majors, long-time rivals and local foes.
The Tarke brothers kept it in the family and swept the weekly honors. Anthony Tarke was named MEAC Player and Defensive Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola. The elder Tarke brother averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.0 blocked shots in three games for the Eagles.
He had a banner game in an 86-80 win over UNC Greensboro, totaling 34 points along with ten rebounds for a double-double, along with eight assists, four blocked and four steals. In the victory, Tarke made 11-of-13 shots from the field and 10-of-15 free throws and was the first NCAA player since the 2010-11 season to put up that stat line.
The younger Tarke brother, Nendah Tarke, had a season-high 20 points to go along with four boards in the win over UNC Greensboro en route to being named Rookie of the Week. He averaged nine points, 5.3 boards, and two steals per game for the week.
Florida A&M opened the week on Tuesday with a big road win over Austin Peay, while South Carolina State opened the week by taking on Liberty.
Delaware State will visit Coastal Carolina on Thursday.
There will be a number of good games on Friday; Howard will return to the court after a 12-day absence when the Bison play host to rival Hampton in the Battle of the Real HU. North Carolina A&T State will host cross-town foe Greensboro College, while FAMU will head to Atlanta, Ga., where the Rattlers will square off with Georgia Tech and Norfolk State will play host to UNC Wilmington. South Carolina State will hit the road again to take on Presbyterian.
Coppin State will visit Virginia Tech on Saturday, while North Carolina A&T State will head to Charlotte and Morgan State will play host to West Virginia Institute of Technology. Delaware State will make their visit to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech on Sunday.
The week will wrap up on Monday with South Carolina State hitting the road to take on Furman.
Please note all games are subject to change.
Thursday, Dec. 17
Delaware State at Coastal Carolina, 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 18
Greensboro College at North Carolina A&T State, 3 p.m.
Hampton at Howard, 5 p.m.
South Carolina State at Presbyterian, 6 p.m.
Florida A&M at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m.
UNC Wilmington at Norfolk State 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 19
West Virginia Institute of Technology at Morgan State, 12 p.m.
North Carolina A&T State at Charlotte, 4 p.m.
Coppin State at Virginia Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20
Delaware State at Georgia Tech, 6 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 21
South Carolina State at Furman, 7 p.m.