North Carolina Central delivered a strong performance on the road, defeating Morgan State 89-78 at Hill Field House. The Eagles' victory was fueled by a balanced attack, with three players scoring in double figures. Khouri Carvey led the way with 21 points and 8 rebounds, while Gage Lattimore added 20 points and 6 rebounds, and Kelechi Okworogwo chipped in with 17 points.
Morgan State's Alfred Worrell Jr. did his best to keep the Bears in the game, scoring 29 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Eagles' high-powered offense. Christian Meeks and Elijah Davis also had solid games for Morgan State, with Meeks scoring 12 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, and Davis tallying 11 points and 10 assists.
The game got off to a competitive start, with North Carolina Central taking a 35-32 lead into halftime. However, the Eagles pulled away in the second half, outscoring Morgan State 54-46. The Bears struggled to contain North Carolina Central's offense, which shot efficiently and moved the ball well.
The win is a significant one for North Carolina Central, which improves to 7-12 on the season. While the Eagles still have a ways to go, this victory shows that they are capable of competing with teams like Morgan State. For the Bears, the loss drops them to 8-13, and they must regroup and refocus as they move forward.
This game was classified as a Quadrant 4 matchup for both teams, which means it won't carry much weight in terms of NCAA Tournament resume building. However, the win is still important for North Carolina Central, as it shows that they can win on the road against a team with a similar profile. The Eagles' current net ranking of 342 suggests that they still have a lot of work to do if they want to be considered for postseason play, but this victory is a step in the right direction.
For Morgan State, the loss is a setback, but it's not a devastating one. The Bears' net ranking of 356 indicates that they are still a ways off from being considered a serious tournament contender. However, they have shown flashes of brilliance at times this season, and they want to build on those moments as they move forward. Ultimately, this game will be remembered as a solid road win for North Carolina Central, and a learning experience for Morgan State. The Eagles' tournament chances are still a long shot, but this win keeps them alive, and they want to build on this momentum in their upcoming games.