Coppin State Upsets NCAT in Double Overtime

NORFOLK- Five Eagles scored in double figures in Coppin State's 98-91 double overtime thrilling win over the North Carolina A&T Aggies in the first round of the MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament on March 7 in Scope Arena in Norfolk, VA.
 
In a game where neither team led by double figures and Eagle starters Christian Kessee and Joshua Treadwell fouled out Coppin State battled and found a way to pull out the opening round win.
 
Coppin State is now 5-1 is the last six MEAC Tournament games against the Aggies.
 
Head Coach Michael Grant was pleased to see his team win its first overtime game of the season.
 
"Great game, I thought our guys came in focused and ready to play," said Grant, who is in his second year in charge of the team. "It was really good to see these guys step up and win an overtime game."
 
Junior James Sylvester finished with a game high 24 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He added four assists and three rebounds in 36 minutes of game action.
 
Sylvester knocked down 10 of his 12 foul shots highlighted by five straight makes down the stretch of the second overtime.
 
Christian Kessee scored 23 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 32 minutes on the floor. He shot 7-of-15 from the field while sinking six 3-pointers for the third time this season.
 
Kessee leadership shined brightest after he fouled out with 2:34 left in the first overtime.
 
"I told Lucian (Brownlee) to protect the ball," said Kessee, a native of Las Vegas, NV. "I also told him to play with confidence and to knock down the open shot when you get it."
 
Lucian Brownlee sank two free throws with 24 seconds left on the clock in double overtime to give the Eagles a 94-91 lead.
 
Keith Shiver poured in a career best 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 45 minutes on the court for Coppin State.
 
"I really believe it was meant for us to win this game today because the preparation coming in," Shivers said. "Before we walked out of the locker room we saw the last losing team coming in and we told ourselves we aren't going to look that when we come back in."
 
Terry Harris Jr., tallied 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals on a team high 48 minutes.
 
Joshua Treadwell fell just short of a double double chipping in 13 points, nine rebounds, one block, an assist and a block in 28 minutes of playing time.
 
The Eagles shot 43.5% (27-for-62) from the floor and outscored the North Carolina A&T 12-5 in double overtime.
 
Bruce Beckford led the Aggies with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Denzel Keyes added 18 points and 13 rebounds for North Carolina A&T.
 
Coach Grant and his team have weathered all the storms they've faced this season and have a ton of confidence heading into the next round of the MEAC Tournament.
 
"It was a great team effort today and these guys deserve this win," Grant said. "I don't think anybody in the conference can say they've played anybody that close that 6 out of 10 losses have come in overtime. There's nobody in this league that we can't beat."
 
Coppin State will return to action Thursday March 10 to square off against the South Carolina State Bulldogs in the second round of the MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament. Tipoff is at 6:00 p.m. in Scope Arena in Norfolk, VA.