Men's Basketball | 3/13/2025 11:20:41 PM

NORFOLK, VA – Redshirt senior Isaac Parson scored on a runner in the final seconds to lift sixth-seeded North Carolina Central to a 79-77 victory over third-seeded Delaware State in the MEAC Men’s Basketball Tournament quarterfinals Thursday night at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

Delaware State’s Martaz Robinson hit a three-pointer with 7.8 seconds remaining to tie the game at 77 all. North Carolina Central had led 76-70 after Parson sank two free throws with 1:09 left before the Hornets’ late rally.

Following a timeout, Parson took the inbound pass and raced down the court, closely guarded by Robinson. With the clock winding down, he released a shot with about two seconds left. The ball bounced on the rim as the final horn sounded before finally dropping through. After an official review, the basket was confirmed as good.

Perry Smith Jr. led the Eagles with 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting and added six rebounds. Po’Boigh King contributed 21 points, shooting 6-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. Jaqai Murray added 10 points and five rebounds.

Delaware State was paced by Muneer Newton’s 27 points and seven rebounds, while Robinson added 20 points and seven boards. Also scoring in double figures were Robert Smith Jr. with 11 points and Kaseem Watson with 10. The Hornets closed their season with a 16-14 record.

In a game featuring multiple momentum swings, North Carolina Central led 35-31 at halftime and extended its advantage to 53-43 after a three-point play by Smith Jr. with 13:33 remaining. Delaware State responded with a run, closing the gap to 59-56 on two Robinson free throws at the 8:59 mark.

North Carolina Central then scored 10 of the next 15 points, six of them from King, to push its lead to 69-61. The Hornets answered with another rally, tying the contest at 77-all with just under eight seconds remaining. Overtime seemed imminent until Parson’s buzzer-beater sealed the Eagles’ victory.

North Carolina Central advances to Friday’s semifinals, where it will face second-seeded South Carolina State at 8 p.m. The teams split their regular-season matchups, each winning on their home court.

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