NCAAB Game Recap - North Carolina Central at Norfolk State
Sat Mar 16, 2019 1:00 PM EDT

UMBC
49
Vermt
66
F
Penn
58
Harv
66
F
Wisc
55
MSU
67
F
NCC
50
Norf
47
F
Hou
61
Mem
58
F
TxSt
46
GASt
59
F
TXSo
86
PVAM
92
F
Seton
72
Vill
74
F
BGSU
73
Buff
87
F
E WA
62
Mont
68
F
W Ky
56
ODU
62
F
GrCan
57
NMSt
89
F
Oreg
68
Wash
48
F
CS-Ful
64
UCIrv
92
F
Princ
77
Yale
83
F
Tenn
82
KY
78
F
StLou
67
David
44
F
WichSt
63
Cin
66
F
SDSU
57
UtSt
64
F
GaSo
58
TexAr
67
F
NOrl
60
AbCh
77
F
Minn
49
Mich
76
F
IaSt
78
Kansas
66
F
FSU
63
Duke
73
F
URI
51
StBon
68
F
Fla
62
Aub
65
F

Mar 16, 2019, 1:00 PM EDT

Final

1

2

T

(3) North Carolina Central

22

28

50

(1) Norfolk State

32

15

47

Douglas, big run push NC Central past Norfolk State, 50-47
Sat Mar 16, 2019 5:08 PM

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) North Carolina Central got no style points in winning its third consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship. Coach LeVelle Moton figured in advance that that might be the case: In a regular season meeting, Norfolk State beat the Eagles in overtime.

"Typical championship game," Moton said after his team's 50-47 victory against top-seeded Norfolk State on Saturday. "We knew we were going to be in for a dogfight. ... This is what we do it for, man."

Zacarry Douglas scored all 10 of his points during a 25-6 second-half run and the third-seeded Eagles (18-15) held on, earning their fourth MEAC title in six years and another trip to the NCAA Tournament despite missing nine of their last 10 shots and not scoring for the final 4:03.

"Defense wins games anyway," center Raasean Davis said. "As long as we were locked in on the defensive end and limited them to one shot, that was one of our man focuses."

Mastadi Pitt scored 14 points and C.J. Kelly 13 for Norfolk State (21-13). The Spartans had a last chance to tie, but after taking a timeout with 8.8 seconds left, they had to settle for a heavily contested desperation heave by Pitt at the buzzer.

"We wanted to win it and we've got another game, but it's rough right now," Pitt said. As regular season champions, Norfolk State will advance to the NIT.

The Spartans closed the first half on a 20-8 run and led 32-22 at the break. It was 34-22 after Alex Long's jumper to open second-half scoring, but Jordan Perkins' 3-pointer started the 25-6 spurt. Perkins had seven points in the run that gave the Eagles a 47-38 lead with 8:18 to play.

The Spartans were 4 for 22 from the field in the second half.

"We shot 18 percent from the field and that's not going to win too many games," Norfolk State coach Robert Jones said.

The Spartans trailed 50-42 after Jibri Blount's basket for the Eagles with 4:03 left, but got only a driving basket by Steven Whitley and three free throws by Jordan Butler the rest of the way as they missed seven of their last eight shots.

"Even though we weren't scoring, we stopped them from scoring, so that helped us a lot," Davis said.

MAKING HISTORY

The Eagles became the first MEAC team to win three straight tournament titles since North Carolina A&T won seven straight from 1982-88. They will be seeking their first victory in the NCAA Tournament.

"If we get this win, we know it's going to be a dogfight," Douglas said.

BIG PICTURE

N.C. Central: The Eagles turned over the ball 17 times, but it led to just 13 points for Norfolk State. The Eagles also won the rebounding battle 41-29 with Davis grabbing 14 and Douglas 12.

Norfolk State: Scoring leader Nic Thomas (14.9 points per game) was scoreless, missing all five of his shots from the field. Derrik Jamerson, the No. 2 scorer (10.6), also was scoreless and did not take a shot. A 51 percent 3-point shooter (86-166), Jamerson played only 11 minutes because of a foot injury aggravated in the semifinals on Friday night, Jones said.

UP NEXT

N.C. Central: will await its NCAA Tournament destination.

Norfolk State: will play in the NIT as league regular-season champions.

Follow Hank Kurz Jr. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hankkurzjr

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

North Carolina Central PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
Z. Douglas 10 0 0 12 1 0
J. Blount 9 0 0 3 1 0
Norfolk State PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
M. Pitt 14 0 2 1 1 0
C. Kelly 13 0 2 4 1 0

Team Comparison

NCC Norf
Points For 50 47
Field Goals 18/50-36% 16/47-34%
Three Pointers 3/21-14% 4/12-33%
Free Throws 11/16-69% 11/15-73%
Offensive Rebounds 12 5
Defensive Rebounds 29 24
Rebounds 45 34
Blocks 2 4
Steals 5 7
Turnovers 17 14
Personal Fouls 16 14
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - Series Tied 1-1

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Sat Feb 16 NCC 71 @ Norf 75 L. McKnight Jr. 18 D. Jamerson Jr. 23
Sat Mar 16 NCC 50 @ Norf 47 Z. Douglas 10 M. Pitt 14

Game Information

Stadium: Norfolk Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia
Attendance: 0
Game Time: