DURHAM, N.C. – Coppin State went toe-to-toe with reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament champion North Carolina Central before dropping a gut-wrenching 79-77 decision at McDougald-McLendon Gym Saturday afternoon in a thriller.
The visiting Eagles (2-17 overall, 1-5 MEAC) played their best all-around game of the season as it pushed NCCU (15-5, 7-0) to the limit in a contest that came down to the final shot.
The Eagles had the person they wanted taking the final shot, which was a wide open 3-pointer from the top of the key. The shot fell short and even though CSU grabbed the offensive rebound, it couldn't get off a shot that would have forced overtime. North Carolina Central was able to extend the third-longest Division I homecourt winning streak to 30 games because of Jordan Parks, who scored the decisive basket with 11 seconds remaining off of a missed shot.
Coppin State placed four players in double figures highlighted by
Christian Kessee's 19 points. He averaged 21 points in the Eagles' two games this week.
Sterling Smith finished with 17 points and a team best seven rebounds.
Dallas Gary was a man possessed, scoring all 13 of his points after intermission. Gary also added seven rebounds for Coppin State.
Orchestrating the entire Coppin State show was senior guard
Taariq Cephas, who recorded his second double-double of the season and third of his career with a splendid 10 point, 12 assist performance that had the entire NCCU gym in awe. The 12 assists were the sixth-best single game mark in Coppin State history for Cephas, who has 387 career helpers.
Coppin State made 10 3-pointers, the 13th time this season it has made at least nine triples in a game. Overall, CSU was 10-of-21 from 3-point distance (47.6 percent) against the nation's third-best 3-point field goal percentage defensive team. The Eagles have rediscovered their 3-point shooting accuracy after a brief stretch in which they struggled. Coppin State has made 22 3-pointers over its last two games.
While all those above numbers are nice, this particular game hurt as Coppin State did everything possible to make sure it left Durham with a victory except win the rebounding battle. NCCU outrebounded Coppin State, 46-29. Each time NCCU seemed poised to deliver a decisive blow, Gary, Smith, Kessee, Cephas and the others would score a well-timed basket to keep the home crowd nervous.
CSU trailed 70-65 and 90 seconds later the game was tied at 70 with 5:31 remaining. NCCU pushed ahead 74-70 with 4:33 left, but again Coppin State was able to grab a 77-75 edge after a Cephas layup with 88 seconds remaining.
Coppin State started the game like it meant business and announced its intent immediately by making four 3-pointers before the first media timeout and swooshing to a 9-2 advantage. Despite falling behind 30-24, Coppin State ended the first half in style with a 17-8 burst punctuated by Kessee's deep deuce at the buzzer.
Parks finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds for NCCU, which extended its current winning streak to eight games. Dante Holmes collected 19 points and seven rebounds.
Coppin State concludes its North Carolina weekend with a Monday night contest in Greensboro against North Carolina A&T beginning at 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, NCCU hosts Delaware State Monday night in a game that will be televised nationally by ESPNU beginning at 7:00 p.m.
