Men's Basketball | 2/26/2015 4:30:00 PM
BALTIMORE – The second installment of the "Battle of Baltimore" will take place Saturday afternoon on the other side of town when Coppin State (6-21 overall, 5-9 MEAC) visits Morgan State (7-21, 5-9) in a critical Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men's basketball contest at Hill Fieldhouse beginning at 4:00 p.m.
No matter the records, it's always one of the most anticipated men's basketball matchups on the HBCU calendar. Coppin State took the first matchup, 80-67, on national television back on Feb. 2. A series sweep, would make things slightly easier for Coppin State when it comes to winning a tiebreaker with Morgan State for seeding purposes of the upcoming MEAC Tournament.
Even though the regular season ends in a week, a lot can happen to change seedings for the MEAC Tournament which begins on Monday, March 9 at the Norfolk Scope Arena. The only thing that's known for sure is that North Carolina Central is the No. 1 seed as regular season champion for the second consecutive year. In addition, Norfolk State will most likely end up as the No. 2 seed as it enjoys a two-game cushion over Howard and UMES with two games remaining.
After that, think of the rest of the MEAC standings as a steel-cage royal rumble especially in the area where Coppin State and Morgan State sit as both teams are tied for ninth overall. Currently, CSU has the tiebreaker for now based on its earlier victory. Since Florida A&M is not eligible for the men's tournament, only 12 schools will head to the Scope Arena. Right now, the Eagles can finish anywhere from sixth to 11th when the music stops following the final game of the regular season next Thursday.
The postseason fate and possible opponent could become clearer or more muddled following Saturday's game depending upon what happens in Charm City and in other MEAC locales.
Coppin State is coming off of a 99-81 loss to Norfolk State last Saturday despite
Sterling Smith's career-high 28 point outing. Smith has made at least 50 percent of his shots in seven of his last eight games.
Smith, who leads the MEAC and is 20th nationally in 3-point field-goal percentage, 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.
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.
Meanwhile, Morgan State dropped a 60-57 overtime road decision to North Carolina A&T Monday night. Blake Bozeman led all scorers with a career-high 25 points for the Bears. Andrew Hampton scored 16 points (4-10 3FG) and Cedric Blossom had a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with seven points.
Either Bozeman or Blossom has been Morgan State's top scorer in 22 of 28 games this season, combining for 25+ points in 16 games, 30+ points nine times, and one 40-point performance. Both have finished in double figures 44 times while combining for 11 of the team's 11 20-point games. Blossom has reached the 20-point plateau in six games, while Bozeman has five games with 20 or more.
Both teams conclude their regular season schedules Thursday night. Coppin State hosts Delaware State while Morgan State visits Maryland Eastern Shore. The MEAC will officially release tournament pairings later that evening after every game is finished.
