NORFOLK, Va. – Lamont Middleton and Adrian Powell scored 13 points each as seventh-seeded North Carolina A&T rode a stingy defensive performance to a 55-42 upset win over second-seeded North Carolina Central Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament.
The Aggies (17-16) snapped a five-game losing streak in the rivalry by holding the Eagles (22-9) to 22.6-percent shooting (12 of 53), including 6 of 25 from deep. North Carolina Central committed 17 turnovers and was outscored 22-10 in the paint.
North Carolina A&T didn't shoot much better, hitting 36.6 percent (15 of 41), but knocked down 23 of 34 free throws to the Eagles' 12 of 26.
The Aggies held a 20-15 lead at halftime, holding N.C. Central to 26.1-percent shooting (6 of 23) before the break.
N.C. A&T pulled the upset on the same floor where eighth-seeded Bethune-Cookman knocked off top-seeded Norfolk State in the early game.
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