BALTIMORE – When
Andre Armstrong exited the Michigan game on Nov. 29 after going scoreless in 17 minutes, he knew something wasn't right as a foreign thought crept into the mind of the confident and fearless sharpshooter: trepidation and doubt.
The Coppin State University men's basketball senior guard had been touched by tragedy four years earlier when one of his close friends collapsed and died during basketball practice in New York when Armstrong was a senior in high school. It shook him to his core.
"I was definitely a little scared because I didn't want something like that to happen to me," Armstrong said. "At first I didn't know what was wrong with me and I thought I was sick during one practice. I got very dehydrated, but I kept playing through it. Then later on that day, I went to my room. I was very cold and I couldn't eat anything. I called one of my teammates and let him know that I needed to go to the hospital because it got worse. I started shaking and then I threw up as soon as I got to the hospital."
The sickness did something that few defenders have been able to: It temporarily shut down Armstrong, who is one of the best players in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Now, he has a stronger sense of purpose each time he puts on his cherished gold-and-blue uniform and steps onto the basketball court.
Armstrong is healthier, stronger and determined as the Eagles (4-10 overall, 1-0 MEAC) continue their run at a conference title by hosting Savannah State (3-12, 1-0) at the Physical Education Complex Saturday at 4:00 p.m. This is the second of a three-game home-stand for the Eagles.
"What hit me the most was not being able to do something that you love," Armstrong said. "Even though it was hard being away from the court, my biggest thing was to make sure I was right because I didn't want to rush back. I hated being away from the court. I was getting aggravated because I was missing games and as a senior, you want to play in every game because every game counts."
He missed four games and those were the longest three weeks of Armstrong's life. However, Armstrong is quickly making up for lost time. He has been scintillating during his return to action. He has scored in double figures in four of the five games he has played since being cleared to return to action. He is finding his form on his jump shot as he has made four 3-pointers each in the Eagles' last two games against Akron and Towson.
Even though he started the first five games, Armstrong has thrived a spectacular sixth-man, who averages 21.1 minutes per game. Since his return, Armstrong has been one of the first players venerable coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell turns to. When the Eagles fell behind, 15-2 to Towson last Saturday, Armstrong entered the game and made an impact by scoring seven points and bringing energy to the court.
"It's important to have him back and get the scoring," Mitchell said. "He's our best 3-point shooter. Being able to have him available gives us that extra punch especially with (Michael) Murray playing as well as he's been playing. Andre contributes to us in a positive manner offensively and he's even doing more things this year like playing a little better defense and also getting a rebound here and there. It's a thrill to have him back. I worry about all my players and I was just hoping he would be OK because I know this is a big year for him as far as his career is concerned. Fortunately, he still has an opportunity to reach his goals that he set for himself at the start of the season."
Overall, Armstrong is one of three Eagles averaging double figures. He is third on the team with a 10.7 point per game average. Murray leads Coppin State in scoring with a 15.7 point per game average. Sophomore
Sterling Smith contributes 11.3 points per contest. The Eagles have been money in the bank at the free-throw line this season. They lead the MEAC in free-throw shooting percentage (76.2) and are 14th nationally.
Armstrong is one of three players for Coppin State shooting over 80 percent at the foul line. He has made 40-of-49 free-throws for an 81.6 percentage. Junior guard
Taariq Cephas (36-for-41, 87.8 percent) and senior guard
Daquan Brickhouse (32-for-37, 86.5) are second and fifth, respectively in the conference in free-throw shooting.
The Eagles are looking forward to playing conference competition the rest of the season.
Savannah State broke a 10-game losing streak by beating UMES, 66-42, Monday night in its conference opener. Jeremiah Hill scored 17 points while Jyles Smith grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Tigers to victory. Smith also had six blocks for Savannah State while Joshua Montgomery came off the bench to chip in 11 points.
Overall, Smith leads the MEAC in rebounding (7.5 rebounds per game) and is third in blocked shots per game (2.7). The Tigers are third in the MEAC in scoring defense (69.3) and field goal percentage defense (43.6). SSU is also second as a team in blocked shots (4.7).
"Our record doesn't show what type of team we have," Armstrong said. "We have a lot of talent. It's a guard orientated conference and everybody is going to be at our necks and we have to match the intensity of every team we play and come out with a purpose. I feel like you're not guaranteed to play. Life itself is not guaranteed. So now, I play every game like it's my last."
