Taariq Cephas had 12 points to lead CSU.BALTIMORE – Senior guard
Taariq Cephas scored 12 points to lead the Coppin State men's basketball team during a 58-53 setback to Bethune-Cookman University Saturday afternoon at the Physical Education Complex in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest.
Sterling Smith made a trio of 3-pointers to finish with nine points for the Eagles (1-16 overall, 0-4 MEAC). It was the 10th time this season that Smith made at least two 3-pointers in a game this season. He has 94 career 3-pointers.
In finishing with eight points and a team-best seven rebounds,
Arnold Fripp made both of his 3-point attempts in 19 minutes. Fripp's 3-pointer from the top of the key gave Coppin State its largest lead of the contest, 41-33, with 13 minutes, 36 seconds remaining. For Fripp, who is 14th in the conference in rebounding at 5.9 per game, it was the fourth time in five games he has finished with seven or more rebounds.
With Fripp teaming with sophomore
Jerimyjah Batts, who scored six of his eight points during a 19-8 surge over the opening seven minutes of the second half, Coppin State appeared poised to take control of the contest at that point. The Wildcats were able to get back into the game as Coppin State turned the ball over on three straight possessions.
Over the final 10 minutes, the Wildcats and Eagles combined for three ties and four lead changes. Coppin State held leads of 47-43 with 8:08 remaining following a pair of Cephas foul shots and for the final time at 51-50 with 2:31 remaining after
Dallas Gary sank a pair of foul shots.
Bethune-Cookman (5-13, 1-3) had three players reach double figures led by Delino Dear's double-double (14 points, 13 rebounds). Quinton Brewer (seven rebounds) and Brandon Stewart (eight rebounds) added 13 points each for the Wildcats, who won the rebounding battle, 48-34. Brewer converted an offensive rebound into the basket that gave BCU the lead for good, 52-51 with 2:12 remaining.
The Wildcats were 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) from the free-throw line in the second half.
Coppin State returns home to host Florida A&M Monday evening at 7:30 p.m.
NOTES: Cephas moved past Steve Miller and into third place all-time on the Coppin State all-time assist chart. Cephas has 369 career assists and is 31 away from becoming the third player in school history with at least 400 career assists….Coppin State now has made a 3-pointer in 145 consecutive games.
