WASHINGTON, D.C. – Coppin State trailed Howard early on but came back with a strong second half on the road defeating the Bison 81-72, on Monday, January 16
th in Burr Gym. Freshman
Dejuan Clayton exploded for a career-high 28 points including 23 points in the second half.
Coppin State improves to 5-15 overall and 4-1 in MEAC play. The Eagles made a season-high 31 field goals shooting 57 percent from three-point range. Clayton made 11-of-15 shots from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range scorching the Bison defense. In the second half alone Clayton dropped 23 points hitting 9-of-10 field goals and 3-of-4 from downtown.
Senior
Keith Shivers had 15 points, two steals and two assists, junior
Tre' Thomas scored 13 points making 3-of-5 three-pointers and senior
Chas Brown grabbed a team-high five rebounds while scoring ten points.
Howard led 11-0 at the beginning of the game and extended their early advantage to their largest lead of 17 (26-9) with 9:53 remaining in the first half. After their hot start, the Bison began to struggle as the Eagles bench got the offense rolling closing out the half on a 23-7 run. Shivers and Brown anchored the CSU run combining for 15 points. Seniors
Joshua Treadwell and
Joseph Gripper along with junior
Blake Simpson all came off the bench and trimmed the Howard lead to one (33-32) by halftime.
Coppin State took a 34-33 lead at the beginning of the second half after a dunk by Brown. Howard held a slim advantage until the midway point of the half as Clayton began to heat up. Clayton's three-pointer at the 9:22 mark brought the deficit to four (55-51) and then his three-pointer at the 6:44 mark gave Coppin State a 58-55 lead. The Eagles began to soar in the final minutes shooting 70 percent from the field in the second half. CSU made 19-of-27 shots from the field and 5-of-8 three-pointers all in the second half.
With 2:48 left in the contest the Eagles jumped out to an 11 point lead (74-63) and then cruised to victory, 81-72.
The Eagles are back in action on Monday, January 23 at home against Norfolk State at 7:30 p.m.
