Men's Basketball | 2/16/2015 10:58:00 PM
Box Score DOVER, Del. –
Sterling Smith and
Arnold Fripp each posted double-doubles to lead Coppin State to a 96-92 victory over Delaware State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men's basketball game Monday night at Memorial Hall.
Smith shined by tying his career-high with 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field. He also sank six 3-pointers and complemented his performance with 10 rebounds for his fourth career double-double. Smith, who also recorded four steals, scored Coppin State's first 14 points of the game and never looked back as the Eagles enjoyed a happy bus ride home through the evening snow.
It was the second time in three games and fifth time this season that Smith hit for 20 or more points.
"I felt good at the start of the game," Smith said. "My shot has been feeling good the last few games. I've been in a nice zone the last few games and I've been shooting with confidence. Our goal is to try to get hot going into March. We had some big time performances tonight from everybody and that was big for us."
Fripp caught fire and scored 13 of his 22 points in the second half as Coppin State (6-20 overall, 5-8 MEAC) earned its second road victory of the season. Fripp also grabbed 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and fourth of his career. It was the first time this season that the Eagles had two players finish with double-doubles in the same game.
Dallas Gary and
Taariq Cephas added 15 points each for the Eagles while
Daquan Brickhouse contributed nine points. Playing in front of about 40 friends and family members, each of whom were wearing blue t-shirts, Cephas recorded eight assists, the 14th time this season he has finished with five or more helpers in a game.
"This was a really good win for us because we were coming off of an embarrassing loss Saturday to Howard," Fripp said. "We have three games remaining and now we want to keep everything rolling. Once Sterling started the game hot, it created opportunities for everybody else going and then we were able to hit shots."
Coppin State's surplus of balanced scoring was needed to offset Delaware State senior guard Amere May's 39-point performance. Fortunately for the Eagles many of May's points occurred after they had constructed a 19-point advantage in the second half.
In a game matching the top two scoring offenses in the MEAC, Coppin State proved to be quicker and more efficient. Coppin State shot 47.5 percent for the game (28-for-59) and sank 10 3-pointers, the 19th time this season the Eagles made at least nine 3-pointers.
Defensively, Coppin State limited Delaware State to 37.5 percent shooting (33-for-88).
Jerimyjah Batts made Delaware State's inside threat Kendall Gray work for his 25 points and 12 rebounds. Like most of May's points, many of Gray's markers came after the Eagles built a comfortable advantage.
Leading 48-36 at intermission on the strength of Smith's 17 first half points, Coppin State wasted little time in expanding its advantage to 58-41 following a
Christian Kessee jumper three minutes into the second half. Even though the Hornets made runs and closed to within nine points, the Eagles always had an answer.
When Delaware State pulled to within, 63-55 with 12:23 remaining, Fripp and Gary took control. During one fun sequence, Gary dunked, Fripp drained a 3-pointer followed by a deep deuce that highlighted a 13-2 burst that gave the Eagles their largest lead, 76-57, with 8:57 remaining.
Coppin State made enough free throws down the stretch to keep Delaware State at a safe distance.
The Eagles return to action Saturday afternoon when they host Norfolk State at 4:00 p.m.
"I thought we did a good job of competing for the entire game tonight," Coppin State head men's basketball coach
Michael Grant said. "This is one of the best games we played and we did a nice job of finishing the game. Competing was the number one thing we talked about and make it tough on teams to beat us. They played hard and left everything out on the floor."
