Delaware St., NC Central meet in MEAC quarters
No. 11 seed Delaware State (6-24, 3-14) vs. No. 3 seed NC Central (15-15, 10-6)
Mid-Eastern Conference Tourney Quarterfinals, Norfolk Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia; Thursday, 5 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: A spot in the MEAC semifinals is on the line as Delaware State is set to take on NC Central. In the regular season, NC Central won both of the head-to-head matchups. The teams last went at it on Feb. 11, when the Eagles outshot Delaware State 50 percent to 31.3 percent and made six more 3-pointers on the way to the 87-52 victory.
SENIOR SCORING: NC Central has relied heavily on its seniors this year. Raasean Davis, Randy Miller, Jr., Jibri Blount, Zacarry Douglas and Larry McKnight Jr. have collectively accounted for 74 percent of the team’s scoring this year and 78 percent of all Eagles points over the last five games.
LEAPING FOR LARKIN: Kevin Larkin has connected on 29.6 percent of the 142 3-pointers he’s attempted and has gone 5 for 16 over his last three games. He’s also made 75.8 percent of his free throws this season.
WINLESS WHEN: The Eagles are 0-7 when they score 60 points or fewer and 15-8 when they exceed 60 points. The Hornets are 0-18 when allowing 74 or more points and 6-6 on the season, otherwise.
BEHIND THE ARC: Delaware State’s Johquin Wiley has attempted 172 3-pointers and connected on 30.2 percent of them, and is 7 for 26 over the last five games.
DID YOU KNOW: NC Central is rated first among MEAC teams with an offensive rebound percentage of 35.5 percent. The Eagles have averaged 11.9 offensive boards per game.