Image via Doug Burt
Courtesy of Kyon Lewis, Director of Strategic Communications Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Third-seeded North Carolina Central outscored sixth-seeded Maryland Eastern Shore 9-2 in overtime to earn an 83-76 win over the Hawks in the quarterfinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament at The Scope.
Dionte Johnson, who led all scorers with 26 points, had four free throws and Jae Slack a 3-pointer in the extra period to help the Eagles grab the victory.
Coach LeVelle Moton’s team, which improved to 14-17, will meet Delaware State, seeded seventh, Friday in an 8 p.m. semifinal contest.
Darion Staples of Maryland Eastern Shore nailed a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to tie the contest at 74-all, forcing overtime. Johnson’s two free throws with 6.3 seconds on the clock put NCCU ahead 74-71 but the Hawks pushed the ball and found Staples on the wing and he nailed his attempt from beyond the arc for the tie, forcing overtime.
Slack opened the overtime period with a 3-pointer to put NCCU ahead 77-74 with 3:52 on the clock but Staples answered with a driving layup to close the gap to 77-76 with 3:28 remaining, and had a chance to deadlock the contest once more when fouled, however, he missed the free throw. His basket would be the only points scored by UMES in the extra period.
Both teams had opportunities to add more points in overtime, and perhaps put the game away but could not convert on consecutive possessions. Johnson scored four straight free throws in the final 17 seconds to give the Eagles an 83-76 lead and the final score.
