The North Carolina Central Eagles are set to face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions in a non-conference basketball matchup on Monday afternoon, as both teams seek to bounce back from recent losses. North Carolina Central, with a current record of 4-10, experienced a narrow 74-72 defeat against Longwood on December 20. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions, holding an 8-4 record, are coming off an 80-46 loss against Pittsburgh on December 21. The Eagles have struggled on the road this season, currently sitting at 0-8, while Penn State boasts a solid home court record of 6-1 this season.
The game will take place at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania, with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Notably, this will be the inaugural matchup between these two teams. According to the latest odds, Penn State is heavily favored with a 23.5-point spread, and the over/under for total points is set at 148.5.
In the lead-up to this contest, the SportsLine Projection Model has simulated the game 10,000 times, providing insights into player performances and potential outcomes. The model suggests that the over on total points is likely to hit, given recent trends in scoring. In the last ten games for Penn State, the over has been successful 6 out of 10 times, and NC Central’s previous encounter with a power program—a loss to Kentucky—saw the total points exceed 148.5.
Statistically, the model projects North Carolina Central players to contribute significantly, with Gage Lattimore expected to lead the Eagles in scoring at approximately 17.4 points, while the Nittany Lions are anticipated to have multiple players, including Kayden Mingo and Freddie Dilione V, contributing around 16.8 points each.
As the teams gear up for this important clash, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Penn State can leverage their home advantage to secure a much-needed victory or if North Carolina Central can defy the odds to achieve a road win. This game presents an opportunity for both squads to reclaim momentum as they progress through the season.