BALTIMORE –
Sterling Smith hit for 20 or more points for the fifth time in Coppin State's last eight games during a 99-81 loss to Norfolk State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men's basketball game at the Physical Education Complex Saturday night.
Smith finished with a career-high 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field. He also sank five 3-pointers and made all five of his foul shots. Smith has made at least 50 percent of his shots in seven of his last eight games.
Smith is sizzling since Jan. 26. He is shooting 60.2 percent (59-for-98) from the field and 58.6 percent from 3-point distance (34-for-58). During that time period, Smith is averaging 22.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. Smith's previous career-high was 27 points against Savannah State and Delaware State. For those counting at home, this was the third time in Coppin State's last four games that Smith either established or tied a career-high point total.
Smith was one of four Coppin State players to hit for double figures against the Spartans, who shot 61.8 percent as a team.
Christian Kessee and
Daquan Brickhouse scored 13 points each for the Eagles (6-21 overall, 5-9 MEAC). Each player missed two shots. One of Brickhouse's baskets was a 3-pointer to beat the halftime buzzer. His shot trimmed Norfolk State's halftime advantage to 39-36.
Arnold Fripp finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
Taariq Cephas handed out seven assists, which was the 15th time this season he handed out at least five dimes in a game. He did finish with seven points to move past
Michael Murray and into 20th place on the all-time Coppin State scoring list with 1,031 points following a jumper in the lane with 5 minutes, 10 seconds remaining.
Cephas' only basket of the second half pulled the Eagles to within, 77-74. Unfortunately for Coppin State that would be as close as it would get.
Coppin State sank 12 3-pointers, the 20th time this season it has made at least nine 3-pointers in a game. The Eagles have made double-digit 3-pointers in a single game 14 times this season, including nine of their last 10 contests. The Eagles soared out the gates racing to an early 8-2 advantage following consecutive 3-pointers from Cephas and Smith two minutes into the game.
After trailing by 10 points midway in the first half, the Eagles battled back to tie the game at 33 following a
Jahvari Josiah basket with 3:03 left before intermission.
Norfolk State (17-11, 10-3) got a 30-point and 10-rebound performance from Rashid Gaston to end a two-game losing streak. D'Shon Taylor had 23 points while Malik Thomas scored all 21 of his points in the second half. Jeff Short scored 13 points for the Spartans, which finished with 26 assists on their 34 baskets.
Coppin State will take a week off before finishing its schedule with a quick trip across town to face Morgan State next Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
