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.

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LEICESTER, N.C. (WLOS) — Neighbors near Moonrise Ridge in Leicester are reacting after a house explosion shook their homes in the early morning on Friday, March 13.

“I stepped outside and saw smoke and an orange glow from the neighbor’s house,” said neighbor Ryan Dailey. “By the time I got across the hill, the house was completely leveled and fully engulfed in flames.”

The Leicester Volunteer Fire Department responded after receiving a call about a possible house fire at a home off Gibbs Road, Fire Chief Gary Moore said.

“It was below freezing this morning,” Moore said. “And in our area, we have no fire hydrants, so we had to shuttle water in. It’s a narrow, one-lane road down to the house.”

HOUSE EXPLOSION REPORTED IN LEICESTER; NO ONE INJURED IN BLAST

Authorities confirmed the home was destroyed. Dispatch calls were for a propane tank explosion, but Moore said the cause of the blast is still under investigation. Fire crews spent hours extinguishing hot spots while the Buncombe County fire marshal continues investigating.

Jeff Williams, a home restoration expert with an emergency response company, monitors fire dispatch notes that come through an app for licensed response firms. He said initial information indicated a propane tank explosion that ignited the home. He showed News 13 the note that went out.

“This one was actually a propane tank [that] exploded and burst in the home,” said Williams.

Williams said propane systems require routine inspections.

MARCH HISTORICALLY WINDIEST MONTH IN ASHEVILLE, WITH WINDS DYING DOWN IN LATE SPRING

Another neighbor, Josh Lockhart, uses propane to heat his home. He said he’s aware there can be risks, but he said there are checks and balances. Fire officials recommend having heating systems inspected regularly by a certified propane or gas company.

“We have monitors to let us know if there’s carbon monoxide or if it has a smell to it as well,” he said. “And I assume that if they were here, and I don’t want to make assumptions, if they were here, they probably would have smelled it, if there was a leak, because it does have a very noticeable smell.”

Lockhart said a retired couple owns the home.

“I feel horrible for them with the fact that they’re going to have to come home to this,” he said.

The investigation into the explosion remains ongoing.