Coppin State men heads to Howard for Saturday showdown

Men's Basketball | 1/8/2015 12:27:00 PM

BALTIMORE – The Coppin State men's basketball team returns from a one-week break to play its 13th road game of the season against Howard University at Burr Gymnasium Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. The Eagles finish the season with 14 consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contests.
 
A LOOK AT HOWARD
The Bison are 7-8 overall heading into a Thursday night non-conference contest at Cornell. Three of Howard's wins are against Division III opponents (Hood, Goucher and Gwynedd-Mercy). Howard has split its last four games. James Daniel, James Miller and Jame Carlton account for 67 percent of the team's 61 points per game for Howard. Daniel, who was picked as the MEAC preseason Player of the Year, leads Howard in scoring (17.0 points per game). He has also made 32 3-pointers. Carlton and Miller score at an 11.9 point per game clip. Carlton's 7.4 rebound per game average has helped the Bison average 38.5 rebounds per contest.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR COPPIN STATE
Coppin State dropped a 79-62 road decision to Akron despite having four players reach double figures. Sterling Smith had 16 points to lead Coppin State. Also reaching double-digits for Coppin State were Arnold Fripp (14 points), Christian Kessee (11  points) and Taariq Cephas (12). Cephas flirted with a  quadruple-double by complementing his scoring with a career-high 10 rebounds, season-high eight assists and a career-best seven steals. That effort earned him MEAC Player of the Week honors.
 
STRONG SCHEDULE
Coppin State's non-conference Strength of Schedule (SOS) was ranked 11th and its overall strength ranked 26th (see graphic above). Of Coppin State's 15 opponents, 12 of them currently have winning records. Notre Dame is currently ranked 13th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Eagles last four games (Eastern Michigan, Evansville, Eastern Kentucky and Akron) were against teams ranked or receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. Seven of Coppin State's losses have come to teams ranked in the top 100 of the ESPN BPI.
 

COPPIN CROSSOVERS (1N 140 CHARACTERS OR LESS)
-- Coppin State has held its last two opponents below 42 percent shooting.

-- Coppin State has outrebounded three of its last four opponents.

-- Coppin State has won four of its last six games against Howard, including its last two trips to Howard.

-- Coppin State is 41-18 all-time against Howard.

-- Coppin State has made a 3-pointer in 143 consecutive games.

-- Sterling Smith has reached double digits in scoring in 8 straight games.

-- Coppin State leads the MEAC and is 7th in the nation in 3FG made per game (9.8).

-- 45.4% of all shots have been 3pt FGA, the highest rate in school history.

-- The Eagles have made at least nine 3-pointers in a game 11 times this season.

-- Taariq Cephas has 361 assists, which is tied for 4th all-time in school history.

-- Cephas needs 39 assists to become the 4th MBSK player in program history with 400 career assists.

-- Fripp has led CSU in scoring and rebounding in the same game four times this season.

-- Daquan Brickhouse is 18-for-19 from the foul line this season (94.7%).

-- Coppin State is second in the nation in 3FGA (436) and 6th in 3FGM (143). 

UP NEXT
Coppin State finally begins a homestand when it hosts Bethune-Cookman (Saturday, Jan. 17) and Florida A&M (Monday, Jan. 19). It will be the first time this season that the Eagles will play consecutive home games.
 
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Military Appreciation Night: The Coppin State University basketball teams will celebrate the Armed Services on Saturday, January 17, 2015. All active and retired service members will receive free admission to the Bethune Cookman-Coppin State basketball games by showing proper identification at the Physical Education Center box office. This is Coppin State's way of encouraging U.S. citizens to observe the afternoon in a symbol of unity, to honor the current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those who have died in the pursuit of freedom. Armed Forces members will be recognized during the games.
 
Teacher Appreciation Night: The Coppin State University basketball teams will celebrate the many educators on Monday, January 19, 2015. All teachers will receive free admission to the Florida A&M-Coppin State basketball games by showing proper identification at the Physical Education Center box office.