On Friday, the North Carolina Central Eagles (14-18) face off against the South Carolina State Bulldogs (19-12) at Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia in the semifinal of the MEAC Tournament. Get ready for the college basketball season with our college basketball picks.

South Carolina State comes into this matchup on a ten-game winning streak. In their quarterfinal matchup of the MEAC Tournament, South Carolina State managed to secure a tight 68-63 victory over Coppin State, with Wilson Dubinsky leading the charge by netting 20 points for the Bulldogs. Throughout this season, the offensive efforts for South Carolina State have been spearheaded by Drayton Jones, who tops the scoring chart with an average of 13.4 points per game. Omar Croskey follows as the team's second-highest scorer, contributing an average of 11.5 points per game. Jones also dominates on the boards, averaging 5.6 rebounds per match. When it comes to playmaking, Mitchell Taylor stands out by leading the team in assists, averaging 2.3 per game. Recently, South Carolina State has been in impressive form, averaging a remarkable 81.2 points over their past five contests. As they prepare to face North Carolina Central, the Bulldogs aim to extend their winning streak to eleven games while avoiding an upset. Overall, they maintain a season scoring average of 75.9 points per game.

North Carolina Central enters this game on a one-game winning streak and has won three of their last five games. In a thrilling quarterfinal match of the MEAC Tournament, the Eagles clinched a nail-biting 79-77 victory over Delaware State with a clutch shot at the buzzer. Perry Smith Jr. shone brightly, contributing 22 points to lead his team. Throughout the season, Po’Boigh King has been the top scorer for North Carolina Central, averaging 16.5 points per game. Close behind, Keishon Porter ranks as the second-highest scorer, with an average of 11.1 points. Perry Smith Jr. isn’t just a force on offense; he also leads the team in rebounds, pulling down an average of 5.9 boards a game. When it comes to setting up plays, Isaac Parson excels as the Eagles' chief playmaker, averaging 4.3 assists per game. In their recent five-match stretch, North Carolina Central has consistently hit the scoreboard with an average of 74.4 points. After their exhilarating buzzer-beater encounter with Delaware State, the team is brimming with confidence and aims to carry their offensive prowess into the upcoming clash against South Carolina State. On average, the Eagles are scoring 79.2 points per game this season.

College Basketball Best Bets and Odds for January 30, 2025