GREENVILLE, N.C. – Five Coppin State players, including
Koby Thomas, who recorded a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds, finished in double figures to lead the Eagles to an 85-75 victory at East Carolina Tuesday night at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
The Basics:
Final Score: Coppin State 85, East Carolina 75
Records: Coppin State (4-6), East Carolina (2-7)
Location: Greenville, N.C. (Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum)
Series History: Tied at 1-1
Inside the Numbers
- Koby Thomas matched a season-high with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting and 5-of-6 from the line. He also led the Eagles with a game-high eight rebounds to go with three steals.
- Kamar McKnight added 16 points to go with six rebounds and a career-high six assists.
- The Robinson twins also were in double figures combining for 25 points and seven 3-pointers. Andrew Robinson tallied 14 points with four threes while Aaron Robinson scored all 11 of his points in the first half with three triples. Aaron Robinson also pulled down six rebounds.
- Providing a spark off the bench, Ibn Williams matched a career-high with 12 points in just eight minutes, making all three of his field goals with a pair of threes. Williams also made all four of his free throws.
- Brendan Medley-Bacon also had one of his best career games, recording six points, six rebounds, a career-high five assists and blocked a pair of shots.
- Coppin shot a season-high 50.8% from the floor with ten 3-pointers and made 13-of-16 (81.8%) from the stripe. It held East Carolina to 37.5% shooting and outscored the Pirates, 40-34 in the paint.
- The victory was Coppin's first over a BCS opponent since November 10, 2013 when it beat Oregon State, 78-73 in Corvallis.
- CSU now has four wins over non-conference Division I opponents. This is the most wins over those opponents since the 1993-94 season with five being a school-record (1988-89, 1989-90, 1991-92).
How it Happened
- Coppin got out to a quick 5-2 lead, but East Carolina responded with a 9-2 run and took its largest lead of the game at 16-10 with a three at the 13:51 mark of the first half.
- Aaron Robinson then came in off the bench and hit three-straight 3-pointers in just 82 seconds to give Coppin back the lead at 19-18 with 12:08 to play.
- The Pirates scored four-straight to retake a three-point lead until Coppin went on a 12-3 run, capped off by a layup by Robinson with just under five minutes remaining to give the Eagles a 34-28 advantage.
- ECU hit a three at the other end, but CSU held the Pirates scoreless for the final 4:23 and took a 39-31 lead to the half.
- Out of the break, East Carolina hit a free throw to make it a 39-32 deficit, and after a layup by Koby Thomas, hit two more to pull to within seven once again with 17:22 remaining.
- That would be as close as the Pirates got the remainder of the way as Andrew Robinson answered with a three and closed out a 12-5 run with another three to make it a 51-39 score at the 14:04 mark.
- East Carolina was able to pull within single digits with 7:20 to go at 62-53, but Ibn Williams scored seven-straight Eagles points to keep the lead intact.
- Williams later hit a three with 3:36 remaining, giving CSU its largest lead of the game at 78-62, sealing the victory.
Up Next: Coppin will have a week off but will head back to the Tar Heel State on Tuesday, December 10 when it takes on Davidson College in a 7 pm tipoff.
