Delaware State Hornets vs North Carolina Central Eagles Picks and Prediction for Friday March 13 2026
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The Delaware State Hornets face the North Carolina Central Eagles in the MEAC Tournament Semifinal on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET with television coverage on ESPN+. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily predictions and betting insights.
Delaware State Trying to Continue Tournament Run
Delaware State enters the MEAC Tournament Semifinal with an 8-22 overall record and a 2-12 mark in MEAC play. The Hornets advanced after recently winning over Morgan State 75-70 in overtime in the quarterfinal round. Over their last five games, Delaware State has recently won over Morgan State and Maryland Eastern Shore while recently losing to South Carolina State, North Carolina Central, and Morgan State.
On the season, Delaware State averages 61.4 points per game while allowing 70.9 points per contest. The Hornets shoot 40% from the field and average 31.2 rebounds with 10.6 assists per game. Defensively, Delaware State records 1.8 blocks and 7.8 steals per game while relying on effort and defensive pressure to stay competitive.
In the overtime win over Morgan State, Miles Webb led the Hornets with 18 points and also dominated the glass with 12 rebounds. Delaware State shot 43% from the field and controlled the rebounding battle 42-35 while hitting 22 free throws. However, the Hornets now face a quick turnaround after an overtime game, which could impact their energy level in the semifinal.
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North Carolina Central Riding Offensive Efficiency
North Carolina Central enters the MEAC Tournament Semifinal with a 13-17 overall record and an 8-6 mark in conference play. The Eagles advanced after recently winning over Maryland Eastern Shore 83-76 in overtime in the quarterfinal round. Over their last five games, North Carolina Central has recently won over Maryland Eastern Shore twice and Delaware State while recently losing to South Carolina State and Howard.
On the season, North Carolina Central averages 72.2 points per game while allowing 76.4 points per contest. The Eagles shoot 44% from the field and average 31.6 rebounds with 13.9 assists per game. Defensively, North Carolina Central contributes 3.6 blocks and 8.9 steals per game while using defensive pressure and transition scoring to generate offense.
In the quarterfinal victory over Maryland Eastern Shore, Dionte Johnson led the Eagles with 26 points while Gage Lattimore led the team with eight rebounds. North Carolina Central shot an efficient 51% from the field and an impressive 91% from the free throw line while knocking down eight three-pointers. With strong offensive efficiency and a recent win over Delaware State in the regular season, the Eagles enter the semifinal with confidence.
Delaware State vs North Carolina Central Pick
Delaware State vs North Carolina Central Spread Pick
- Pick: North Carolina Central Moneyline
North Carolina Central already defeated Delaware State 74-60 in their recent meeting and appears to have the offensive edge heading into this semifinal. The Eagles shot extremely well in their quarterfinal game and have the ability to pressure defensively while generating scoring opportunities in transition. With Delaware State coming off an overtime game and having struggled offensively most of the season, North Carolina Central has the better overall matchup in this spot.
Delaware State vs North Carolina Central Total Pick
- Pick: Over
I like the over in this matchup because both teams played overtime games in the quarterfinal round and showed the ability to score when needed. North Carolina Central’s offense has been efficient recently, and Delaware State also showed offensive improvement in its last game while getting to the free throw line frequently. With the pace likely to increase in a tournament semifinal, this game could produce more scoring than expected.
Final Score Prediction: North Carolina Central 75, Delaware State 68
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