North Carolina Central upsets Delaware State 79-77 in MEAC Tournament quarterfinal
AP
Mar 14, 2025
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Perry Smith Jr. scored 22 points and Isaac Parson flipped in the game-winner on a reverse layup with one second left as North Carolina Central Eagles pulled off the upset with a 79-77 victory over Delaware State Hornets in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday night.
Parson dribbled the length of the court and scored for the sixth-seeded Eagles (14-18) after Martaz Robinson buried a 3-pointer to pull the third-seeded Hornets (16-14) even with seven seconds remaining.
Smith added six rebounds for the Eagles, who move on to a semifinal matchup with No. 2 seed South Carolina State on Friday. No. 1 seed Norfolk State plays fifth-seeded Morgan State in the other semifinal.
Po'Boigh King hit four 3-pointers and finished with 21 points for the Eagles. Jaqai Murray scored 10.
Muneer Newton had 27 points and nine rebounds to pace the Hornets. Robinson added 20 points and six rebounds. Robert Smith pitched in with 11 points and three steals.
North Carolina Central went into halftime leading Delaware State 35-31. King put up nine points in the half. Smith led the way with 16 points in the second half.
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1st Half
NCCU
Eagles
35
DSU
Hornets
31
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Eagles gains possession)
19:44
+2
Jaqai Murray makes two point layup
2-0
19:15
Robert Smith misses two point jump shot
19:13
Hornets offensive rebound
19:13
Jaqai Murray personal foul
19:09
+2
Kaseem Watson makes two point layup
2-2
18:50
Po'Boigh King turnover (Alston Andrews steals)
18:40
Martaz Robinson misses two point jump shot
18:38
Muneer Newton offensive rebound
18:35
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point layup
2-4
18:18
+2
Jaqai Murray makes two point jump shot
4-4
17:54
Alston Andrews misses two point jump shot
17:52
Dionte Johnson defensive rebound
17:45
Robert Smith personal foul
17:40
Robert Smith personal foul
17:32
Perry Smith Jr. turnover (Kaseem Watson steals)
17:27
Keishon Porter personal foul
17:17
+2
Kaseem Watson makes two point layup (Martaz Robinson assists)
4-6
16:52
Po'Boigh King misses three point jump shot
16:50
Muneer Newton defensive rebound
16:41
Martaz Robinson misses two point jump shot
16:39
Keishon Porter defensive rebound
16:35
Kaseem Watson shooting foul (Po'Boigh King draws the foul)
16:35
+1
Po'Boigh King makes regular free throw 1 of 2
5-6
16:35
+1
Po'Boigh King makes regular free throw 2 of 2
6-6
16:15
Kaseem Watson misses two point jump shot
16:13
Ponce James offensive rebound
16:12
+2
Ponce James makes two point layup
6-8
15:52
Po'Boigh King turnover (Kaseem Watson steals)
15:49
Kaseem Watson turnover
15:49
TV timeout
15:31
Keishon Porter misses three point jump shot
15:29
Jaqai Murray offensive rebound
15:23
+2
Jaqai Murray makes two point layup
8-8
15:08
Martaz Robinson misses two point jump shot
15:06
Muneer Newton offensive rebound
15:01
+2
Alston Andrews makes two point jump shot (Martaz Robinson assists)
8-10
14:36
+2
Po'Boigh King makes two point jump shot (Keishon Porter assists)
10-10
14:21
Dionte Johnson personal foul
14:01
+3
Ponce James makes three point jump shot (Kaseem Watson assists)
10-13
13:46
Keishon Porter offensive foul
13:46
Keishon Porter turnover (offensive foul)
13:25
Po'Boigh King shooting foul (Muneer Newton draws the foul)
13:25
+1
Muneer Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-14
13:25
+1
Muneer Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2
10-15
12:54
Isaac Parson misses two point layup
12:52
Martaz Robinson defensive rebound
12:52
Isaac Parson personal foul
12:40
Ponce James turnover (traveling)
12:17
Floyd Rideau Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:15
Isaac Parson offensive rebound
11:51
+3
Kelechi Okworogwo makes three point jump shot (Floyd Rideau Jr. assists)
13-15
11:48
TV timeout
11:41
Kelechi Okworogwo shooting foul (Martaz Robinson draws the foul)
11:41
Martaz Robinson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:41
Martaz Robinson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:41
Floyd Rideau Jr. defensive rebound
11:28
Aquan Smart misses three point jump shot
11:26
Eagles offensive rebound
11:15
Timmy Adedire misses three point jump shot
11:13
Muneer Newton defensive rebound
10:50
Kelechi Okworogwo shooting foul (Muneer Newton draws the foul)
10:50
Muneer Newton misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:50
Muneer Newton misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:50
Timmy Adedire defensive rebound
10:37
+2
Perry Smith Jr. makes two point hook shot
15-15
10:22
Kaseem Watson misses two point jump shot
10:20
Isaac Parson defensive rebound
10:08
+3
Floyd Rideau Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aquan Smart assists)
18-15
9:47
Robert Smith turnover
9:44
Muneer Newton shooting foul (Timmy Adedire draws the foul)
9:44
+1
Timmy Adedire makes regular free throw 1 of 2
19-15
9:44
Timmy Adedire misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:44
Alston Andrews defensive rebound
9:23
+2
Kaseem Watson makes two point layup
19-17
8:58
Isaac Parson turnover (Robert Smith steals)
8:48
+2
Martaz Robinson makes two point jump shot
19-19
8:32
+3
Floyd Rideau Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aquan Smart assists)
22-19
8:13
Robert Smith misses three point jump shot
8:11
Kaseem Watson offensive rebound
8:05
+2
Kaseem Watson makes two point floating jump shot
22-21
7:32
Aquan Smart misses three point jump shot
7:30
Martaz Robinson defensive rebound
7:25
+2
Robert Smith makes two point layup
22-23
7:08
Floyd Rideau Jr. misses three point jump shot
7:06
Aquan Smart offensive rebound
7:05
Alston Andrews shooting foul (Aquan Smart draws the foul)
7:05
TV timeout
7:05
+1
Aquan Smart makes regular free throw 1 of 2
23-23
7:05
+1
Aquan Smart makes regular free throw 2 of 2
24-23
6:41
Javarzia Belton turnover (Floyd Rideau Jr. steals)
6:29
Jaqai Murray turnover (Robert Smith steals)
6:13
Ponce James turnover (Po'Boigh King steals)
6:08
Robert Smith personal foul
5:49
Jaqai Murray misses two point jump shot
5:47
Kaseem Watson defensive rebound
5:29
Dionte Johnson personal foul (Muneer Newton draws the foul)
5:29
Muneer Newton misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:29
Muneer Newton misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:29
Po'Boigh King defensive rebound
5:04
+2
Po'Boigh King makes two point jump shot
26-23
4:39
Dionte Johnson shooting foul (Muneer Newton draws the foul)
4:39
+1
Muneer Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-24
4:39
Muneer Newton misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:39
Floyd Rideau Jr. defensive rebound
4:16
+2
Perry Smith Jr. makes two point layup (Jaqai Murray assists)
28-24
3:47
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point layup
28-26
3:25
+3
Po'Boigh King makes three point jump shot (Isaac Parson assists)
31-26
2:57
Martaz Robinson misses two point jump shot
2:55
Perry Smith Jr. defensive rebound
2:52
TV timeout
2:39
Perry Smith Jr. turnover (Martaz Robinson steals)
2:27
Ponce James misses three point jump shot
2:25
Perry Smith Jr. defensive rebound
2:14
Floyd Rideau Jr. turnover (out of bounds)
1:57
Javarzia Belton turnover (Jaqai Murray steals)
1:53
Po'Boigh King misses three point jump shot
1:51
Perry Smith Jr. offensive rebound
1:51
Ponce James shooting foul (Perry Smith Jr. draws the foul)
1:51
+1
Perry Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
32-26
1:51
+1
Perry Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
33-26
1:33
Martaz Robinson turnover (Floyd Rideau Jr. steals)
1:30
Po'Boigh King misses two point layup
1:28
Jaqai Murray offensive rebound
1:26
+2
Jaqai Murray makes two point tip layup
35-26
1:26
Hornets 30 second timeout
0:58
+2
Martaz Robinson makes two point jump shot
35-28
0:58
Isaac Parson shooting foul (Martaz Robinson draws the foul)
0:58
+1
Martaz Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 1
35-29
0:39
Isaac Parson misses three point jump shot
0:37
Muneer Newton defensive rebound
0:27
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point layup (Martaz Robinson assists)
35-31
0:15
Eagles 30 second timeout
0:01
Isaac Parson turnover (Alston Andrews steals)
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
NCCU
Eagles
44
DSU
Hornets
46
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:51
Martaz Robinson shooting foul (Perry Smith Jr. draws the foul)
19:51
+1
Perry Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
36-31
19:51
+1
Perry Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-31
19:26
Kaseem Watson misses two point layup
19:24
Muneer Newton offensive rebound
19:15
+2
Martaz Robinson makes two point layup (Muneer Newton assists)
37-33
19:02
+2
Perry Smith Jr. makes two point hook shot
39-33
18:34
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point jump shot
39-35
18:34
Jaqai Murray shooting foul (Muneer Newton draws the foul)
18:34
+1
Muneer Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 1
39-36
18:15
Jaqai Murray misses two point layup
18:13
Alston Andrews defensive rebound
18:03
Martaz Robinson turnover (Jaqai Murray steals)
17:56
+2
Keishon Porter makes two point layup (Dionte Johnson assists)
41-36
17:33
Martaz Robinson misses two point jump shot
17:31
Alston Andrews offensive rebound
17:30
Official timeout
17:26
Kaseem Watson misses three point jump shot
17:24
Eagles defensive rebound
17:08
+2
Jaqai Murray makes two point layup (Po'Boigh King assists)
43-36
16:50
Keishon Porter shooting foul (Robert Smith draws the foul)
16:50
+1
Robert Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
43-37
16:50
+1
Robert Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
43-38
16:38
Jaqai Murray turnover
16:35
Robert Smith misses three point jump shot
16:33
Kaseem Watson offensive rebound
16:30
Perry Smith Jr. shooting foul (Kaseem Watson draws the foul)
16:30
Kaseem Watson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:30
+1
Kaseem Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
43-39
16:17
+3
Po'Boigh King makes three point jump shot (Isaac Parson assists)
46-39
15:46
Robert Smith misses three point jump shot
15:44
Muneer Newton offensive rebound
15:35
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point hook shot
46-41
15:11
Perry Smith Jr. misses two point layup
15:09
Perry Smith Jr. offensive rebound
15:09
Alston Andrews blocks Perry Smith Jr.'s two point layup
15:07
Eagles offensive rebound
15:07
TV timeout
15:03
Keishon Porter turnover (back court violation)
14:47
Martaz Robinson misses two point jump shot
14:45
Keishon Porter defensive rebound
14:42
Alston Andrews personal foul (Perry Smith Jr. draws the foul)
14:42
+1
Perry Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
47-41
14:42
+1
Perry Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
48-41
14:23
Alston Andrews misses two point layup
14:21
Jaqai Murray defensive rebound
14:13
+2
Isaac Parson makes two point layup
50-41
13:59
Martaz Robinson misses two point layup
13:57
Muneer Newton offensive rebound
13:51
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point tip layup
50-43
13:36
Jaqai Murray misses two point jump shot
13:34
Eagles offensive rebound
13:33
+2
Perry Smith Jr. makes two point layup (Isaac Parson assists)
52-43
13:33
Alston Andrews shooting foul (Perry Smith Jr. draws the foul)
13:33
+1
Perry Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
53-43
13:19
Timmy Adedire shooting foul (Kaseem Watson draws the foul)
13:19
Kaseem Watson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:19
+1
Kaseem Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
53-44
13:09
Timmy Adedire turnover (Robert Smith steals)
13:01
Keishon Porter personal foul
12:50
Kelechi Okworogwo blocks Kaseem Watson's two point layup
12:48
Raymond Somerville offensive rebound
12:44
Kelechi Okworogwo shooting foul (Raymond Somerville draws the foul)
12:44
+1
Raymond Somerville makes regular free throw 1 of 2
53-45
12:44
+1
Raymond Somerville makes regular free throw 2 of 2
53-46
12:32
Isaac Parson turnover (Ponce James steals)
12:29
Po'Boigh King shooting foul (Robert Smith draws the foul)
12:29
+1
Robert Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
53-47
12:29
+1
Robert Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
53-48
12:15
Floyd Rideau Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:13
Eagles offensive rebound
12:13
Kaseem Watson personal foul
12:03
+3
Po'Boigh King makes three point jump shot (Floyd Rideau Jr. assists)
56-48
11:43
Robert Smith turnover (Isaac Parson steals)
11:37
Floyd Rideau Jr. misses three point jump shot
11:35
Martaz Robinson defensive rebound
11:19
+2
Martaz Robinson makes two point jump shot
56-50
11:05
Raymond Somerville personal foul (Timmy Adedire draws the foul)
11:05
TV timeout
11:05
+1
Timmy Adedire makes regular free throw 1 of 2
57-50
11:05
Timmy Adedire misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:05
Hornets defensive rebound
10:56
Robert Smith misses two point layup
10:54
Martaz Robinson offensive rebound
10:52
+2
Martaz Robinson makes two point tip layup
57-52
10:27
Po'Boigh King misses three point jump shot
10:25
Perry Smith Jr. offensive rebound
10:23
Perry Smith Jr. offensive foul
10:23
Perry Smith Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
9:53
+2
Robert Smith makes two point layup
57-54
9:34
+2
Perry Smith Jr. makes two point layup (Isaac Parson assists)
59-54
9:14
Martaz Robinson turnover (Isaac Parson steals)
9:05
Timmy Adedire misses three point jump shot
9:03
Ponce James defensive rebound
8:59
Timmy Adedire shooting foul (Martaz Robinson draws the foul)
8:59
+1
Martaz Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
59-55
8:59
+1
Martaz Robinson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
59-56
8:59
Hornets 30 second timeout
8:59
TV timeout
8:40
+3
Floyd Rideau Jr. makes three point jump shot (Po'Boigh King assists)
62-56
8:20
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point layup (Ponce James assists)
62-58
8:02
Jaqai Murray misses two point layup
8:00
Kaseem Watson defensive rebound
7:43
Perry Smith Jr. personal foul (Muneer Newton draws the foul)
7:43
TV timeout
7:43
Muneer Newton misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:43
+1
Muneer Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2
62-59
7:28
Perry Smith Jr. turnover (Muneer Newton steals)
7:28
Hornets 30 second timeout
7:14
Floyd Rideau Jr. blocks Martaz Robinson's two point layup
7:12
Hornets offensive rebound
7:09
Robert Smith misses three point jump shot
7:07
Floyd Rideau Jr. defensive rebound
6:52
Robert Smith shooting foul (Po'Boigh King draws the foul)
6:52
+1
Po'Boigh King makes regular free throw 1 of 3
63-59
6:52
Po'Boigh King misses regular free throw 2 of 3
6:52
+1
Po'Boigh King makes regular free throw 3 of 3
64-59
6:36
Martaz Robinson misses two point jump shot
6:34
Jaqai Murray defensive rebound
6:24
+3
Po'Boigh King makes three point jump shot
67-59
6:17
Official timeout
5:48
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point hook shot
67-61
5:22
+2
Perry Smith Jr. makes two point layup
69-61
5:10
+2
Martaz Robinson makes two point jump shot
69-63
4:48
Jaqai Murray misses two point jump shot
4:46
Martaz Robinson defensive rebound
4:36
+2
Martaz Robinson makes two point jump shot (Muneer Newton assists)
69-65
4:27
Eagles 30 second timeout
4:27
TV timeout
4:03
Floyd Rideau Jr. misses three point jump shot
4:01
Eagles offensive rebound
4:01
Eagles turnover (shot clock violation)
3:45
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point jump shot
69-67
3:29
Ponce James personal foul (Isaac Parson draws the foul)
3:29
+1
Isaac Parson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
70-67
3:29
+1
Isaac Parson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
71-67
3:06
+3
Robert Smith makes three point jump shot (Ponce James assists)
71-70
2:35
Isaac Parson misses two point jump shot
2:33
Robert Smith defensive rebound
2:20
Robert Smith turnover
2:12
+2
Perry Smith Jr. makes two point layup (Jaqai Murray assists)
73-70
2:12
Muneer Newton shooting foul (Perry Smith Jr. draws the foul)
2:12
+1
Perry Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
74-70
1:53
Muneer Newton misses two point layup
1:51
Perry Smith Jr. defensive rebound
1:28
Jaqai Murray misses two point layup
1:26
Alston Andrews defensive rebound
1:19
Martaz Robinson misses two point layup
1:17
Jaqai Murray defensive rebound
1:09
Martaz Robinson personal foul (Isaac Parson draws the foul)
1:09
+1
Isaac Parson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
75-70
1:09
+1
Isaac Parson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
76-70
0:53
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point layup
76-72
0:53
Hornets 60 second timeout
0:45
Floyd Rideau Jr. turnover (traveling)
0:37
+2
Muneer Newton makes two point layup (Robert Smith assists)
76-74
0:36
Official timeout
0:24
Robert Smith personal foul (Po'Boigh King draws the foul)
0:24
Po'Boigh King misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:24
+1
Po'Boigh King makes regular free throw 2 of 2
77-74
0:11
Ponce James misses two point jump shot
0:09
Muneer Newton offensive rebound
0:09
Perry Smith Jr. blocks Muneer Newton's two point layup
