Delaware State knocks NC Central out of MEAC tourney 63-57

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Amere May scored 24 of his 27 points in the second half and Delaware State stunned top-seeded North Carolina Central 63-57 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament semifinals on Friday night.

The No. 5 seed Hornets (18-16) trailed by 13 early in the second half. But thanks to May, they hung around and surpassed NC Central (25-7) with a late rally, snapping the defending champion Eagles' 35-game conference winning streak.

Delaware State advanced to Saturday's championship game and will face sixth-seeded Hampton, which beat No. 2 seed Norfolk State 75-64 in the other semifinal game.

May made both free throws on a one-and-one with 1:46 left to give Delaware State its first lead, at 57-55, since the opening minutes and pushed the lead to four on another pair of free throws.

Nimrod Hilliard pulled NCCU within two on a jumper with 42 seconds left but Dante Holmes committed a charging violation on the Eagles' next possession. May made all four free throws from there.

Hilliard led the Eagles with 17 points.

Delaware State was without starting point guard Kendal Williams, who injured his ankle early in the team's first-round win over Savannah State on Monday.