Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks vs North Carolina Central Eagles Picks and Predictions for Thursday March 12 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/12/2026, 01:25 AM ET

The Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks face the North Carolina Central Eagles in the MEAC Tournament Quarterfinal on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET with television coverage on ESPN+. At the time of this writing the odds were not listed for this matchup. Be sure to also check out our free college basketball picks for more betting insights on today’s college basketball action.

Hawks Looking to Pull Off a Tournament Surprise

The Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks enter this MEAC quarterfinal matchup with a 9-22 overall record and a 5-9 conference record. The Hawks have struggled to find consistent results recently, recently lost to Delaware State 57-56, recently lost to North Carolina Central 77-73, recently won over South Carolina State 69-57, recently lost to Coppin State 71-65 in overtime, and recently lost to Norfolk State 70-66.

Maryland Eastern Shore averages 64.0 points per game while allowing 70.4 points per contest this season. The Hawks shoot 45% from the field and average 32.5 rebounds along with 13.6 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 2.5 blocks and 5.7 steals per contest.

One of the areas where the Hawks have remained competitive is their defensive effort. While their offense has struggled at times, keeping opponents near 70 points per game has allowed them to remain within reach in several close contests.

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Eagles Hoping to Continue Offensive Production

The North Carolina Central Eagles enter this tournament matchup with a 12-17 overall record and an 8-6 record in MEAC play. North Carolina Central has had mixed results recently, recently lost to South Carolina State 80-64, recently won over Maryland Eastern Shore 77-73, recently won over Delaware State 74-60, recently lost to Howard 100-67, and recently lost to South Carolina State 85-72.

North Carolina Central averages 72.2 points per game while allowing 76.4 points per contest this season. The Eagles shoot 44% from the field and average 31.6 rebounds along with 13.9 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 3.6 blocks and 8.9 steals per contest.

The Eagles’ defensive pressure has been one of their key strengths. Averaging nearly nine steals per game allows them to force turnovers and create additional scoring opportunities in transition.

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks vs North Carolina Central Eagles Pick

Pick: North Carolina Central Eagles

North Carolina Central has already defeated Maryland Eastern Shore recently and appears to hold the edge entering this tournament matchup. The Eagles’ ability to force turnovers and create extra scoring chances could play a major role in controlling the tempo of this game.

Maryland Eastern Shore has struggled offensively throughout the season, averaging just 64 points per game. Against a North Carolina Central defense that can generate steals and disrupt offenses, the Hawks may have difficulty keeping pace.

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks vs North Carolina Central Eagles Total Pick

Pick: Under

I believe this game has the potential to be a lower scoring contest. Maryland Eastern Shore averages only 64 points per game and often plays in slower paced matchups due to their offensive limitations.

With both teams having inconsistent offensive stretches recently, I expect a defensive battle that could keep the scoring below the total range typically seen in higher paced games.

Final Score Prediction: North Carolina Central Eagles 72, Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks 64

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