Eagles Soar on Senior Night, Snap Losing Streak with Gritty Win Over Howard

DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University (NCCU) gave its seniors a night to remember, snapping a three-game losing streak with a thrilling 72-68 victory over Howard University on Saturday evening at McDougald-McLendon Arena.

Before tip-off, NCCU honored five seniors—Chris Daniels, Keishon Porter, Isaac Parson, Aquan Smart, and Timmy Adedire—with framed jerseys in an emotional pregame ceremony. With their families in attendance, the seniors received a standing ovation from the Eagle faithful, setting the stage for a hard-fought battle on the court.

Once the game began, both teams traded baskets in a tight first half. Howard built a seven-point lead on three occasions, but the Eagles clawed back each time. Junior guard Po’Boigh King led NCCU with 13 first-half points, keeping the Eagles within striking distance as they trailed 35-34 at halftime.

In the second half, NCCU took control late, capitalizing on strong inside play and defensive intensity. With Howard leading by three at the 9:36 mark, Perry Smith Jr. powered through for a layup, followed by a clutch three-pointer from Smart to put the Eagles ahead. From there, NCCU never relinquished the lead, using a dominant 36-24 advantage in points in the paint and a swarming perimeter defense that held Howard to just 26.7% shooting from deep (8-of-30).

King finished with a game-high 20 points, while Smith notched his third double-double in four games with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Dionte Johnson added 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the victory.

With the win, NCCU improves to 12-17 overall and 5-7 in the MEAC. The Eagles now set their sights on a showdown with Norfolk State on Monday night, March 3, at 7:30 p.m.

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