BALTIMORE – The Coppin State men's basketball team turned "Cyber Monday" into a "Three-For-All."
The Eagles made 15 3-pointers and had 13 players mark up the scoring column during their 103-50 victory over Division II Goldey-Beacom College Monday night in the Physical Education Complex Arena. The Eagles scored 100 points in a game for the first time since a 110-108 double overtime loss to Norfolk State on Jan. 31, 2011.
It was also the first Coppin State victory for new head men's basketball coach
Michael Grant. Coppin State improved to 1-4 on the season.
"This is the way that I envisioned us playing this year," Grant said. "I thought that starting off the season the way we did is tough for any Division I program to go through with being on the road the way we were. I am very happy with the outcome. The guys played well together and I thought we did a good job of sharing the ball."
Coppin State's balance, depth, accurate shooting and dynamic defense were too much for the visiting Lightning (2-4). Leading the Eagles in scoring were senior
Taariq Cephas and junior
Shomari Triggs with 15 points each. Senior guard
Arnold Fripp added 14 points for the Eagles, who won their home opener after a brutal four-game road trip to begin the season.
The Eagles finished with their highest point total of the young season. Coppin State shot a season-best 50.7 percent (34-for-67). Everybody had a piece of the action in some fashion for Coppin State. While inboxes everywhere were being flooded with discounted coupons and promo codes, the Eagles stuffed the stat sheet as 13 players grabbed at least one rebound and eight players made at least one 3-pointer.
Van Rolle and
Christian Kessee, making his first career start, finished with nine points each. Triggs and Rolle established career-high point totals.
Overall, Coppin State's bench produced 41 of its 62 points after intermission. With Grant subbing players in-and-out frequently during the game, the scorers' table resembled Union Station during rush hour.
"The balance we had coming off the bench was good," Grant said. "I felt good about how they played and they were ready to play, which was key. That really made the difference in the ballgame."
There were plenty of highlights once the Eagles found their groove after an early 16-10 deficit seven minutes into the contest. Triggs was the catalyst for the Eagles. Proving to be a quicker-picker upper, the 5 foot, 8 inch sparkplug guard scored five quick points to help the Eagles get going.
Triggs, who played 12 minutes, made 6-of-8 shots and averaged more than a point per minute.
Sterling Smith gave the Eagles the lead for good, 22-20, with a 3-pointer with 8 minutes, 11 seconds remaining. That kickstarted a 26-10 burst to end the first-half for Coppin State.
"We had a lot of fun tonight," Cephas said. "This is the type of basketball we want to play. We were really excited to play here at home and in front of our fans for the first time this season. We need that energy off the bench and that's what coach Grant believes in."
The Lightning scored 30 points over the remaining 28 minutes of the contest. Coppin State's defense held Goldey-Beacom scoreless for the first seven minutes of the second half. The Eagles scored the first 20 points of the second half to extend their bulge to 66-30.
During the second half, Rolle excited the crowd by making three consecutive 3-pointers from deep on the court in seven minutes while
Jerimyjah Batts' one-handed dunk brought the house down midway through the second half.
Goldey-Beacom got 10 points each from Chris Gebhart and Patrick Ridgeway-Higgs.
Coppin State returns to action Wednesday night when it visits Towson at 7:00 p.m.
