In Norfolk, Virginia, Omar Croskey was instrumental in leading the South Carolina State Bulldogs to a comprehensive 88-67 win over the North Carolina Central Eagles during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday. As a result of this victory, which saw South Carolina State as the No. 2 seed triumph over the No. 6 seed, the Bulldogs are set to take on the top-seeded Norfolk State in the tournament’s championship game on Saturday.
Croskey delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 30 points and pulling down five rebounds for the Bulldogs, who hold a record of 20-12. In supporting roles, Davion Everett contributed 16 points with an impressive field goal performance, going 7 of 11 and 2 for 3 from the free-throw line. Additionally, Colin McKenzie made an impact from long range, hitting all four of his attempts from beyond the arc to accumulate 14 points. This victory marks South Carolina State’s ninth consecutive win, showcasing their strong form heading into the final.
On the other side, Perry Smith Jr. was a standout for the North Carolina Central Eagles, tallying 20 points and securing nine rebounds. The Eagles also saw solid contributions from Po’Boigh King, who added 18 points alongside two steals, while Keishon Porter chipped in with 11 points and three steals.
South Carolina State established their dominance early on, taking the lead just 18 seconds after the game commenced and maintaining it throughout. Croskey was pivotal in the first half, accruing 19 points to give his team a significant 54-25 lead at halftime. Although the Eagles managed to outscore the Bulldogs by eight points in the second half, Croskey continued his scoring prowess with a team-leading 11 points post-break to ensure a comfortable win for South Carolina State.
