HAMPTON, Va. –
Taariq Cephas and
Arnold Fripp combined for 25 points during Coppin State's 71-52 setback to Hampton in its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men's basketball opener at the HU Convocation Center Saturday night.
Playing its third game in five days, Coppin State was outscored by 15 points in the second half and dropped its second straight contest. Overall, the Eagles are in a stretch where they are playing five games in 10 days and four in seven.
Cephas led the Eagles (1-6 overall, 0-1 MEAC) with 13 points. Fripp added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. Cephas and Fripp each made two 3-pointers for the Eagles, who entered the game 10th nationally in 3-pointers made per game.
Jahvari Josiah contributed nine points and five rebounds for the Eagles.
Daquan Brickhouse, who missed Wednesday's game at Towson, finished with eight points.
Sterling Smith led the Eagles with six rebounds for the second straight game.
Things started well for Coppin State, which sprinted to a 5-0 lead 99 seconds into the contest. In addition, the Eagles held a 20-13 advantage with 9 minutes, 12 seconds remaining in the first half. Fripp scored a layup to give CSU its last lead of the game, 22-20, with 5:59 remaining.
Coppin State trailed 33-29 at intermission, but Hampton outscored the Eagles, 15-3, over the first nine minutes of the second half.
In winning their second straight game, the Pirates (3-5, 1-0) had three players reach double figures led by Deron Powers, who scored a game-high 17 points. Dwight Meikle had 15 points and Quinton Chievous finished with a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds).
Coppin State concludes its three-game road trip Monday night when it plays Norfolk State beginning at 7:00 p.m.
