BLACKSBURG, Va. – Coppin State's
Anthony Tarke led all players with 19 points and
Isaiah Gross added a season-high 12 points in a 97-57 loss to Virginia Tech at the Hokies' Cassell Coliseum on Saturday night.
Tarke made 7-of-15 shots and was also credited with four steals and a block, whereas Gross, a freshman from Lanham, Md., hit 5-of-6 free throws in the best game of his young career.
Nendah Tarke added seven points and
Koby Thomas chipped in with four points, a team-high seven rebounds and matched
Anthony Tarke with four steals.
The Eagles (1-6) were outshot, 51.7% to 36.4% and outrebounded, 43-29. The Hokies hit from all over the court, draining 20 3-pointers on 37 attempts (54.1%) and 17-of-24 from the free throw line. Four Virginia Tech players finished in double figures with Nahiem Alleyne and Jalen Cone going for 18 points apiece with five 3-pointer's each.
Coppin held a one-point lead twice in the opening portion of the first half, but an 8-0 Hokies run gave Virginia Tech the first semblance of a real advantage at 16-9 with 10:22 to go in the period. A pair of triples by
Anthony Tarke and
Nendah Tarke sandwiched a slam dunk from
Koby Thomas to make it a 22-17 score, but the Eagles were outscored 17-5 for the remainder of the half.
Virginia Tech hit a free throw after a technical foul was called to open the second half, but
Anthony Tarke scored six-straight points, with a pair of dunks, to cut the deficit to 40-28 with 18:01 left to play. The Hokies stopped Tarke's run with a 17-4 spurt of their own which sealed the win.
CSU returns to the hardwood on Wednesday, December 23 for a 7 pm tipoff at Iona College. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+.
