CSU looking to be a rude guest at NCCU

Men's Basketball | 1/22/2015 4:50:00 PM

BALTIMORE – The level of competition ramps up for the Coppin State men's basketball team this weekend when it travels to face North Carolina Central on Saturday (4:00 p.m.) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest.
 
After defeating last-place Florida A&M on Monday night, 87-75, at home, the Eagles (2-16, 1-4) head to Durham to meet reigning MEAC Tournament champion NCCU (14-5, 6-0) at McDougald-McLendon Gym.
 
Coppin State is excited about the challenge that awaits it against NCCU, winners of 29 straight home games and 24 consecutive contests against MEAC opponents. The home court winning streak is the third longest in Division I behind Arizona and Gonzaga. NCCU has also won eight in a row following a pair of back-to-back losses to Maryland and Memphis in December.
 
NCCU is the only undefeated team in conference games and it is 40-3 against MEAC teams since the start of the 2012-13 season.
 
"I want us to get better and continue to play with the same energy we'd play with in our last game and we'll be fine," Coppin State head men's basketball coach Michael Grant said. "We're going in with the mindset that we're competing for the same thing that they are competing for. Anything can happen and we have to make sure we're on the top of our game."
 
The Eagles have lost five of their last six games against NCCU including 87-63 last season in Durham. Coppin State is much better than its overall record and its beginning to perform a higher level. The Eagles have forced three of their five conference opponents into 20 or more turnovers, including 22 from Florida A&M Monday night.
 

Also against the Rattlers, Coppin State had a great time sharing the ball as it finished with a season-high 22 assists on its 32 baskets. Coppin State made 12 3-pointers, the 12th time this season it has made at least nine in a game. The Eagles also got a career-high 23 points from Christian Kessee and 22 points from Taariq Cephas in the win over the Rattlers. Arnold Fripp added 17 points and a career-high five assists.
 
In its last three games, Dallas Gary has chipped in 9.7 points per game. The Eagles have also received much needed contributions from their inside tandem of Lawrence Fejokwu and Jerimyjah Batts. They combined for 12 rebounds against FAMU.
 
"They have been playing a lot better and they're more confident," Grant said. "I think the bottom line for both of them getting them reps. Plus, we're not going against teams like Michigan and Illinois where we are playing against post players that are 6-11 or taller."
 
In its last game, NCCU rallied from a 13-point first half deficit to beat Hampton, 59-52.  Anthony McDonald scored a team-high 17 points, all after intermission, in the road win over the Pirates. Dante Holmes scored 15 points for the Eagles, Nimrod Hilliard added 11 points and six assists, and Karamo Jawara grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
North Carolina Central senior forward Jordan Parks was been named to the Lou Henson Award Mid-Season Watch List.The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the Division I Mid-Major Player of the Year. Parks leads the MEAC and ranks fourth in the nation in field-goal percentage (64.1), while ranking seventh in the league in scoring at 14.6 points per game and eighth rebounding at 7.1 boards per game.
 
One of the intriguing matchups of the game will be Coppin State's lethal 3-point shooting offense against NCCU's tough 3-point defense. The Eagles lead the MEAC and are 13^th nationally in 3-pointers made per game (9.1). Meanwhile, NCCU is third nationally in 3-point field goal percentage defense (25.3), sixth in opponents' field goal percentage (35.6) and eighth in opponent points per game (55.1).
 
Coppin State continues its road trip on Monday night at North Carolina A&T in the Corbett Sports Center beginning at 7:30 p.m.