NCCU wins long-awaited meeting with MEAC power Norfolk State

NORFOLK, Virginia — Senior backcourt mates Jeremy Ingram and Emanuel Chapman combined for 32 points Thursday night as N.C. Central held off Norfolk State 76-68 in the first meeting between the two MEAC powers in the last two years.

Regular-season MEAC champion NCCU came up a game short in race for the league’s top seed last year, losing once in conference play while Norfolk State was negotiating a perfect MEAC season — but the teams never met before each was bounced from the conference tournament in monumental opening game upsets.

NCCU, which has already clinched at least a berth in the National Invitation Tournament by virtue of its regular-season title, has to win the MEAC Tournament next week to grab the league’s only NCAA Tournament berth.

Norfolk State enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed, NCCU the No. 1.

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