title image via Juan Richardon
URHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men’s basketball team is back on the road this weekend and the early part of next week for a matchup at Longwood on Saturday, and back-to-back games at the Campbell Classic next Monday and Tuesday. The Eagles look to collect their first road victories of the season.
Full Game Notes – Game 5
(Updates for game notes 6-7 will be made after results.)
GAME NOTES: Week 3 at Longwood, Campbell & The Citadel (at Campbell)
2023-24 Regular Season
North Carolina Central (2-2, 0-0 MEAC)
at
Longwood (2-1, 0-0 Big South)
Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 – 3:00 p.m.
Joan Perry Brock Center – Farmville, Va.
Watch: ESPN +
Follow: Live Stats
at (Campbell Classic)
Campbell (1-2, 0-0 CAA)
Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 – 7:00 p.m.
Gore Arena – Buies Creek, N.C.
Watch: FloHoops
Follow: Live Stats
vs. (Campbell Classic)
Mid-Atlantic Christian (1-3, 0-0 SoCon)
Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 – 4:00 p.m.
Gore Arena – Buies Creek, N.C.
Watch: FloHoops
Follow: Live Stats
NC CENTRAL BENCH
The Eagles are currently 2-2, with a perfect record at home. The last time NCCU stepped on the court was at McDougald-McLendon Arena as hosts to Mid-Atlantic Christian. Men’s basketball was victorious 113-50, led by 20 points from Ja’Darius Harris. Junior Keishon Porter had a breakout game, scoring 17 points.
The statistical leader in points for the men’s team is Harris. The redshirt senior is currently averaging 15 points per game, with Po’Boigh King close behind at a 14.5 average. Emmanuel Izunabor, the current MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, averages 6.3 rebounds and Fred Cleveland Jr. dishes out 4.8 assists per game.
Potential starters for NCCU are Cleveland Jr., Porter, Izunabor, King, and Cobey Harraway. This group was responsible for 56 points in Tuesday’s game against MACU.
LONGWOOD BENCH
Longwood is coming off an 80-61 victory against fellow MEAC opponent, Maryland Eastern Shore. The Lancers were led by Szymon Zapala who went 5-of-8 from the field to finish with 15 points. Walyn Napper and Jesper Granlund added 12 points each as well.
Longwood’s starters at UMES were Zapala, Napper, Grunlund, Michael Christmas, and Johnathan Massle. They were responsible for 56 points scored and 34 rebounds.
The Eagles have met the Lancers in four previous meetings, the last coming in 2010. North Carolina Central will see Longwood again this season when it hosts the last home game of 2023.
CAMPBELL BENCH
The Campbell men’s basketball team was defeated in its last competition. The Camels visited Virginia Tech on Wednesday and fell 60-44 for their second loss of the season. Elijah Walsh ended the game with 10 points and was the only player on his team in double digits.
Potential starters for the Camels are Anthony Dell’Orso, Gediminas Mokseckas, Laurynas Vaistaras, Tasos Cook, and Mason Grant. Dell’Orso is averaging 18.3 points.
Campbell will be the host school for the classic bearing the same name. The only school that the Eagles won’t face in the tournament is Idaho State.
THE CITADEL BENCH
The Citadel earned a 77-59 victory on Thursday over North Greenville before making the trip to the Campbell Classic. Elijah Morgan scored 15 points in the contest in 22 minutes of action.
The anticipated starters for next Tuesday’s showdown are Morgan, AJ Smith, Quentin Millora-Brown, Winston Hill, and Madison Durr. Smith currently leads The Citadel in scoring at 14.3 points per game.
The last time The Citadel played NCCU was in 2022 at McDougald-McLendon Arena. The Eagles defended home court in an 81-74 win to even the series at 1-1.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
