BALTIMORE, Md. – Coppin State's men's basketball team placed four players in double figures en route to its third-straight victory, a 71-68 MEAC win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday night at PEC Arena. The Eagles now stand at 4-19 overall and even their conference record at 4-4 while the Hawks fall to 5-19 with a 1-8 mark in the MEAC.
Chad Andrews-Fulton led Coppin with 16 points while
Cedric Council,
Karonn Davis and
Lucian Brownlee added 12 points apiece. Davis also led the Eagles with nine rebounds and seven assists in a great all-around performance while Council made all five of his shot attempts from the field and both of his free throws. Brownlee was also 3-of-4 from three-point range.
Lamar Morgan was held to just six points on the night but matched Council with seven rebounds and also had a pair of steals.
Maryland Eastern Shore was actually ahead 30-21 with 6:08 left in the first half, the largest lead for either team on the night. However, Coppin battled back with eight-straight points with buckets by four different players to cut the deficit to a single point with 4:07 left in the half.
The teams then traded baskets but following a pair of free throws by
Jordan Hardwick, UMES turned it over and
Taqwain Drummond drilled a jumper with 25 seconds remaining, giving Coppin a 37-36 halftime lead.
Coppin held the lead for most of the second half which featured two ties and four lead changes with the Hawks taking its first lead of the period with 5:40 left to play. The teams then traded leads but after a three by UMES' Tyler Jones put the Hawks up 65-63 with 3:33 left, Coppin's
Kent Auslander buried a jumper and Brownlee came right back with a three with 2:24 to go, giving the Eagles a 68-65 lead.
The Hawks were able to claw back to within a single point with 41 ticks remaining but Brownlee was able to get to the hole for a free throw. Davis was fouled on another Hawks missed shot and buried another from the stripe with five seconds left to seal the win.
The Eagles outshot the Hawks, 46.8% to 41.2% while both teams shot an identical 34.8% from distance. Coppin shot very well from the line as well, making 19-of-24 on the night (79.2%).
Up next for Coppin is a road trip to Hampton on Wednesday, January 31 at 7:30 pm.
