ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Playing its first game in eight days, the Coppin State men's basketball team dropped a 72-56 decision to the University of Michigan at Crisler Arena Monday night.
Three Coppin State players reached double figures led by senior
Taariq Cephas and junior
Sterling Smith, who had 11 points each. Senior
Daquan Brickhouse added 10 points for Coppin State (1-10 overall). Cephas, who handed out five assists, crammed all of his points into the final eight minutes.
Meanwhile, Smith made at least two three-pointers for the fifth straight game, led the Eagles with six rebounds, handed out five assists and made four steals.
Daquan Brickhouse had 10 points.Coppin State made nine three-pointers as a team. Cephas led the Eagles with three triples. Senior
Arnold Fripp had nine points and senior
Dallas Gary finished with eight points.
"We dug ourselves into a hole and couldn't get out of it," Coppin State coach
Michael Grant said. "In the second half, I thought we controlled tempo and played well. We had some open looks in the second half and it comes down to us making shots. I think the last couple of games has shown that we are getting better. We just have to stay consistent and play a 40-minute game like we're capable of playing."
Trailing 42-26 at intermission, Coppin State opened the second half by limiting Michigan to three points over the first four minutes. Despite that stellar defense, Coppin State could not cut into its deficit as it made one of its first eight shots during that span.
The difference in the game was the opening four minutes when Michigan scored the first 11 points of the contest. In ending a four-game losing streak, Michigan (7-5) made 60 percent (17-for-28) of its shots in the opening half. The Eagles were 10-for-37 in the first half.
Leading Michigan was freshman Ricky Doyle (16 points) and Zak Irvin (13).
Coppin State returns to action Tuesday night when it visits Eastern Michigan at 6:00 p.m.
