North Carolina Central (13-10, 5-3) at Norfolk State (16-9, 6-2) – 9:00 PM ET (ESPNU)
Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes place on ESPN tonight in a potential MEAC Championship preview between the NC Central Eagles and tonight’s host, the Norfolk State Spartans. After a tough loss at NC Central in their first meeting, the Spartans have won six of their last seven games to take a 1-game lead in the MEAC standings over the Eagles, Howard and Morgan State. The Spartans did need overtime to beat South Carolina State in their last game; Jamarii Thomas had 18 points in the 71-67 victory.
Unfortunately for NC Central, the past two games against 2 of the aforementioned league contenders has resulted in losses; the Eagles lost at home against Morgan State 79-72 and at Howard 90-82. Prior to that stretch, they had won nine of their last 10 contests; the biggest win was a 60-58 victory against Norfolk State in the teams’ earlier meeting.