NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by wild momentum swings and a dramatic final minute of regulation, Dionte Johnson’s overtime heroics lifted North Carolina Central to an 83-76 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament first-round game Thursday at the Constant Convocation Center.

The Eagles, who improved to 13-17, advanced to face Delaware State on Friday. The Hawks’ season ended with a record of 9-23.

Johnson, a junior guard from the Bronx, New York, scored a game-high 26 points, but none were bigger than his two free throws with six seconds left in the second half that forced overtime. He then scored seven of his team’s nine points in the extra period to seal the win. He added three assists in 38 minutes of action.

The contest was a tale of contrasting halves. Maryland-Eastern Shore, led by Zion Obanla’s 21 points and three blocks, controlled the opening period. The Hawks shot efficiently and built a 40-34 halftime lead, capitalizing on early North Carolina Central turnovers.

The Eagles emerged from the break with renewed energy, methodically chipping away at the deficit. A 12-2 run midway through the second half, fueled by Gage Lattimore and Jae’Daun Slack, gave North Carolina Central its first sustained lead. Lattimore finished with 18 points, playing all 45 minutes, while Slack added 14 points.

The Hawks refused to fade. With their offense stalling, they turned to Obanla and the free-throw line. The 6-foot-8 forward from Houston scored 10 of his points after halftime, repeatedly drawing fouls and converting at the stripe. A driving layup by Michael Teal put the Hawks up 72-70 with just over a minute left in regulation.

After a North Carolina Central turnover, Maryland-Eastern Shore had a chance to extend the lead but missed a three-pointer. The Eagles secured the rebound and called timeout with 26 seconds left, setting up the final sequence.

Johnson drove aggressively into the lane and was fouled by Dorion Staples with six ticks on the clock. He calmly sank both free throws to tie the game at 74. The Hawks’ desperation heave from beyond half-court was off target, sending the game to overtime.

The extra period belonged entirely to Johnson and the Eagles. Johnson opened the scoring with a tough layup, and after a Maryland-Eastern Shore turnover, Slack buried a critical three-pointer to push the lead to five. Johnson then drew another foul and made two more free throws, part of a perfect 8-for-8 night from the line, to extend the lead to 81-76.

The Hawks, who managed only two points in the five-minute overtime on a Staples layup, went scoreless over the final 3:28. Their offense, which had relied heavily on Obanla and Staples (14 points, three assists), went cold at the most inopportune time.

North Carolina Central’s defense tightened significantly after halftime, forcing 10 second-half turnovers and limiting the Hawks to 34 points after the break. Kelechi Okworogwo provided a strong interior presence for the Eagles with eight points, two blocks, and a game-high 45 minutes.

For Maryland-Eastern Shore, Justin Monden scored 13 points and Joseph Locandro added 12. The loss was a heartbreaking end to a season that included several close defeats, including a 77-73 loss to these same Eagles just 10 days prior.

North Carolina Central’s victory, while narrow, was a testament to resilience. After being outplayed for the first 20 minutes, they won the second half by six points and dominated the overtime period to survive and advance. The Eagles will need a similar full-game effort as they continue their conference tournament run.