North Carolina
NCCU Advances to MEAC Championship Game with Win Over Delaware State – North Carolina Central University Athletics
The North Carolina Central men’s basketball team is headed to the MEAC Tournament Championship for the first time since 2019 after defeating No. 7 Delaware State on Friday night, 59-53, at Norfolk Scope Arena. The Eagles enter Saturday’s final as the No. 3 seed and will face No. 1 Howard.
In NCCU’s last championship appearance in 2019, the Eagles won their fourth MEAC title and completed a three-peat. This will mark the first time the Eagles and Bison meet in the MEAC championship game.
NCCU (14-17) was led by Kyric Davis, who poured in a season-high 23 points to go along with eight rebounds. Davis was a perfect 11-for-11 from the field in 33 minutes of action. Kelechi Okworogwo also chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds.
DSU (8-23) entered the game with momentum after knocking off No. 2 Morgan State on Wednesday. The Hornets kept the game close throughout, led by Ponce James with 17 points as he tried to lift his team to a victory.
The Eagles took control early in the first half, getting on the board with two quick scores from Okworogwo. Delaware State responded with a 7-0 run until Davis began to take over. Davis finished the first half with 12 points, capitalizing on offensive rebounds.
During NC Central’s 12-0 run, Ryan Archey provided a spark off the bench. The Eagles forced 10 turnovers by the Hornets and held a 24-10 advantage in points in the paint, taking a 32-21 lead into halftime.
Delaware State opened the second half determined to fight back, using an 8-0 run and holding NCCU scoreless for two minutes. The surge prompted head coach LeVelle Moton to call a timeout to regroup the Eagles.
James, Rahmir Moore and Jalen St. Clair helped Delaware State trim the deficit to two points on three different occasions before the final media timeout. Free throws from Davis, Jae Slack and Gage Lattimore extended the lead late as the Hornets ran out of time.
NC Central dropped both regular-season meetings with Howard and will look to break that trend on Saturday, March 14. The championship tips off at 1 p.m. at Scope Arena and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
Follow
-
Culture13 minutes agoPoetry Challenge: Memorize “The More Loving One” by W.H. Auden
-
Lifestyle19 minutes agoPhotos: How overfishing in Southeast Asia is an ecological and human crisis
-
Technology32 minutes agoBlue Origin successfully reused its New Glenn rocket
-
World38 minutes agoDistress call captures tanker under fire, Iran shuts Hormuz trapping thousands of sailors
-
Politics44 minutes agoTrump ally diGenova tapped to lead DOJ probe into Brennan over Russia probe origins
-
Health49 minutes agoExperts reveal why ‘nonnamaxxing’ trend may improve mental, physical health
-
Sports56 minutes ago‘Demon’ Finn Balor settles score with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42
-
Technology1 hour agoiPhone and Samsung flashlight tricks you should know