Longwood Edges North Carolina Central in Close Contest
Saturday, December 20, 2025, 2:00 PM ET · McDougald-McLendon Arena
Longwood Lancers 74, North Carolina Central Eagles 72, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Longwood Lancers vs North Carolina Central Eagles?
Longwood Lancers beat North Carolina Central Eagles 74-72 at McDougald-McLendon Arena on December 20, 2025.
Who was favored in Longwood Lancers vs North Carolina Central Eagles?
Longwood Lancers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -166 (about 62% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Longwood Lancers narrowly defeated the North Carolina Central Eagles with a final score of 74-72 at the McDougald-McLendon Arena. This game was particularly interesting as it showcased two teams with contrasting recent performances, with Longwood entering the game having lost their last two outings, while North Carolina Central was riding a one-game winning streak.
North Carolina Central's home record stood at 4-10 prior to the game, and they had shown some improvement recently, winning four of their last ten games. Their last five games reflected a slight uptick in form, with an average of 77.6 points scored and 72.4 points allowed. The Eagles had a strong showing in their previous game, defeating the Mid Atlantic Christian Mustangs 96-62, which contributed to their current momentum.
On the other hand, Longwood had a record of 7-7 overall and was looking to break a two-game losing streak. In their last ten games, they also recorded a 4-6 record, but their scoring average was slightly higher at 76.5 points per game, albeit with an average of 77.0 points allowed. Their most recent game ended in a 68-71 loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, making this contest crucial for them to regain some confidence.
The game was marked by a competitive atmosphere, with both teams striving for a crucial victory. The Eagles had performed decently at home, with a home record of 4-1 in their last five home games, while Longwood struggled on the road, managing only one win in their last five away games, which contributed to their overall away record of 1-4.
Historically, the two teams had met twice prior to this game, splitting their previous encounters with each team winning once. The most recent meeting before this game occurred on December 21, 2024, where North Carolina Central lost to Longwood 67-82. This added an extra layer of intensity to the matchup, as both teams aimed to assert dominance in their head-to-head record.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing from either side, indicating both teams were likely at full strength, which is always a significant factor in the outcome of closely matched games.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Longwood favored by 3.5 points, with a total over/under set at 146.5. The odds reflected a competitive matchup, with Longwood's moneyline at -166 and North Carolina Central's at +140, indicating that the Lancers were expected to come out on top.
The game conditions were not detailed in the block, but playing at home typically provides a slight advantage due to familiar surroundings and fan support, which North Carolina Central would have hoped to leverage.
As the game unfolded, it was evident that both teams were evenly matched, with multiple lead changes and a tightly contested second half. Key moments included a series of free throws in the final minutes that kept the score close. Notably, Jae Slack's free throws brought North Carolina Central back to a tie at 72-72, but it was Elijah Tucker's late layup that sealed the victory for Longwood.
Overall, the matchup highlighted the competitive nature of college basketball, with both teams showcasing their strengths and weaknesses. Longwood's ability to edge out the Eagles in the closing moments of the game will serve as a vital confidence booster as they look to turn their season around.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LONG -3.5 | 146.5 o -108 / u -112 | Longwood Lancers -166 · North Carolina Central Eagles +140 |
Leaders
- PointsGage Lattimore22North Carolina Central Eagles
- AssistsDionte Johnson5North Carolina Central Eagles
- ReboundsKhouri Carvey11North Carolina Central Eagles
- PointsRedd Thompson Jr.17Longwood Lancers
- AssistsRedd Thompson Jr.4Longwood Lancers
- ReboundsElijah Tucker9Longwood Lancers
Recent form
North Carolina Central Eagles
Last 10: 4-6Streak W176.3 scored · 74.3 allowed per game4-1 at home
- W96-62vs Mid Atlantic Christian MustangsDec 18
- L67-103at Kentucky WildcatsDec 10
- L54-69vs North Carolina A&T AggiesDec 6
- L62-67at James Madison DukesDec 4
- W109-61vs Carolina University BruinsNov 29
- L67-82at South Carolina Upstate SpartansNov 26
- L55-74at Dayton FlyersNov 22
- W123-67vs Toccoa Falls EaglesNov 19
- L53-97at North Carolina Tar HeelsNov 15
- W77-61vs Bluefield State Big BlueNov 13
Longwood Lancers
Last 10: 4-6Streak L276.5 scored · 77 allowed per game1-4 away
- L68-71at Wake Forest Demon DeaconsDec 18
- L76-81vs Delaware State HornetsDec 13
- W84-80at Morgan State BearsDec 6
- W101-55vs Pfeiffer FalconsDec 4
- L66-92at American University EaglesNov 30
- W65-61vs Maine Black BearsNov 29
- L63-70at Siena SaintsNov 28
- L70-95at Columbia LionsNov 23
- L82-83vs Maryland Eastern Shore HawksNov 19
- W90-82vs Binghamton BearcatsNov 15
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point | 31-5 | - | 15-1 |
| Winthrop | 23-11 | 2 | 13-3 |
| Radford | 16-16 | 6 | 9-7 |
| Longwood | 16-16 | 7 | 8-8 |
| UNC Asheville | 15-17 | 7 | 8-8 |
| Presbyterian | 15-18 | 8 | 7-9 |
| Charleston Southern | 15-17 | 9 | 6-10 |
| South Carolina Upstate | 13-19 | 10 | 5-11 |
| Gardner-Webb | 4-29 | 14 | 1-15 |
| Howard | 24-11 | - | 11-3 |
| Morgan State | 14-16 | 1 | 10-4 |
| Norfolk State | 15-17 | 3 | 8-6 |
| North Carolina Central | 14-18 | 3 | 8-6 |
| South Carolina State | 10-22 | 4 | 7-7 |
| Maryland Eastern Shore | 9-23 | 6 | 5-9 |
| Coppin State | 7-24 | 6 | 5-9 |
| Delaware State | 8-23 | 9 | 2-12 |
Box score
| Stat | Longwood Lancers | North Carolina Central Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-58 | 23-51 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 5-24 | 2-17 |
| Three-point % | 21 | 12 |
| Free throws | 17-24 | 24-30 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 80 |
| Rebounds | 40 | 27 |
| Offensive rebounds | 16 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 20 |
| Assists | 14 | 13 |
| Steals | 9 | 11 |
| Blocks | 0 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 18 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 17 | 15 |
| Fast-break points | 21 | 17 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 38 |
| Fouls | 21 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 8 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 66 | 24 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half45-42Khouri Carvey makes layup (Jae Slack assists)
- 2nd Half47-42Emanuel Richards makes layup (Jacoi Hutchinson assists)
- 2nd Half48-42Emanuel Richards makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half48-45Gage Lattimore makes 25-foot three point jumper (Khouri Carvey assists)
- 2nd Half50-45Emanuel Richards makes 5-foot dunk (Jacoi Hutchinson assists)
- 2nd Half50-46Jae Slack makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-47Jae Slack makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-49Tekao Carpenter makes driving layup
- 2nd Half52-49Jacoi Hutchinson makes layup
- 2nd Half54-49Emanuel Richards makes 21-foot jumper
- 2nd Half56-49Jacoi Hutchinson makes layup (Johan Nziemi assists)
- 2nd Half58-49Jacoi Hutchinson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half58-50Jae Slack makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-51Jae Slack makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-51Redd Thompson Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-52Gage Lattimore makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-53Gage Lattimore makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-53Elijah Tucker makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half61-54Khouri Carvey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-54Johan Nziemi makes layup (Redd Thompson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half63-56Gage Lattimore makes layup
- 2nd Half65-56Johan Nziemi makes layup (Redd Thompson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half65-58Kelechi Okworogwo makes layup
- 2nd Half66-58Johan Nziemi makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-58Johan Nziemi makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-60Dionte Johnson makes layup
- 2nd Half67-62Khouri Carvey makes 5-foot dunk (Dionte Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half69-62Emanuel Richards makes layup (Redd Thompson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half69-64Gage Lattimore makes 13-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half69-65Dionte Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-66Dionte Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-66Redd Thompson Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half71-67Khouri Carvey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-68Dionte Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-68Jacoi Hutchinson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-69Gage Lattimore makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-70Gage Lattimore makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-71Jae Slack makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-72Jae Slack makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-72Elijah Tucker makes layup
Win probability
Above the line favours North Carolina Central Eagles, below favours Longwood Lancers.
Venue
- McDougald-McLendon ArenaDurham, NC
- Attendance391
- OfficialsAntoine Dawkins, Jermaine Rogers, Damon Patterson II
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond