The North Carolina Central University men’s basketball team had five players score in double-figures and beat Coppin State University 83-58 on Saturday. Junior Keishon Porter had the highest score with 21 points and also had six rebounds. Seniors Emmanuel Izunabor and Fred Cleveland Jr. both achieved double-doubles.

Cleveland fell just short of matching a record that has been held for 42 years, with a total of 15 assists and 13 points.

At the start of the game, NCCU (16-11, 8-4 MEAC) had a strong 11-3 lead within the first five minutes of play.

Coppin State, with a record of 2 wins and 24 losses overall and 1 win and 11 losses in the MEAC, had only seven players who could participate. However, they managed to reduce the deficit by scoring two consecutive three-pointers before the 12-minute media timeout, putting them behind by only 14-11.

During a scoring drought lasting four minutes, Sophomores Po’Boigh King and Josh Smith contributed to the NCCU Eagles’ points. King successfully made a jump shot after being fouled, and Smith followed with a three-pointer, bringing the score to 19-13.

A rule violation against Coppin State shifted the flow of the game in favor of NC Central, who increased their lead to 31-18 with two successful three-point shots from Devin Gordan, as well as points from Cleveland and Porter.

Another three from Smith followed by a pair of free throws from him as well as a shot in the final seconds of the half from Baltimore native Timmy Adedire put the NCCU Eagles up 38-24.

At halftime, Porter was the leading scorer and rebounder for NC Central with nine points and five rebounds. Smith and Gordon also had eight points each. In the first half, Cleveland had already recorded nine assists.

After both teams, the Eagles, came back to the court, they exchanged points at the start of the second half. Right before a break in the game for media coverage at the 16-minute mark, NCCU scored 10 consecutive points and continued with a 20-0 run, including two impressive three-pointers from Gordon and Cleveland. Only seven minutes into the half, NC Central was ahead with a score of 58-28.

The CSU team was unable to overcome their 30-point deficit, only managing to reduce it to 21 points in the last two minutes. NC Central maintained their dominance and ultimately won by 25 points.

Throughout the game, NCCU maintained the lead by forcing 22 turnovers and tallying 34 points in the paint, surpassing Coppin State’s 14 points.

Smith and Gordon both scored in double digits with 16 and 12 points each, joining Izunabor, Cleveland, and Porter.

Malik Battle of CSU recorded a total of 16 points, while Ryan Archey and Justin Winston both contributed 13 points each.

On Monday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m., NCCU will face Morgan State University in their final stop in Maryland.

To learn more about NCCU Athletics, please visit NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.

Source: wralsportsfan.com