RICHMOND, Ky. – Three players reached double figures for Coppin State during its 107-80 defeat to Eastern Kentucky in its season-opener Friday night at Alumni Coliseum in a men's basketball non-conference contest.
Junior guard
Christian Kessee led the Eagles with 18 points. It was the 14th time in his career that he reached double figures. In two career games against Eastern Kentucky, Kessee averaged 15.5 points. Junior
James Sylvester added 17 points while making both of his 3-point attempts.
Junior Terry Harris posted a double-double of 13 points and a team best 10 rebounds. Freshman
Lucian Brownlee and junior
Mufaro Murinda finished with nine points each for the Eagles (0-1 overall). Junior
Trevon Seymore recorded six assists.
With nine newcomers, the Eagles chemistry is going to take some time to develop. They are learning second-year head coach
Michael Grant's frenetic system as well as one another. Coppin State showed flashes of excellence during the game.
Late in the first half, Coppin State used a 14-4 burst to trim a 40-24 deficit to 44-38 following a Kessee jumper with 1 minute, 24 seconds remaining in the first half. The Eagles' first three field goals were three-pointers. Unfortunately, the Eagles couldn't find their long distance touch over the final 34 minutes as they made three more triples.
Eastern Kentucky (1-0) took control of the contest immediately after intermission, scoring 10 consecutive points in opening 85 seconds of the half to expand its 49-39 advantage. Jarelle Reischel led the Colonels with 21 points.
Coppin State returns to action Sunday afternoon when it visits Iowa at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. That game will be televised on the Big-10 Network.
