BUFFALO, NY- On the last day of the Cerebro Sports Lake Erie Challenge, Coppin State men's basketball fell short of one point in a heartbreaking loss to Canisius on Wednesday evening, with a final score of 76-75 at the Koessler Athletic Center.
The Eagles are now 1-8 for the season.
Four Eagles scored in double figures this afternoon, as
Jesse Zarzuela led with 19 points, and three assists.
Reggie James was a prominent force for Coppin as the second leading scorer, with a career-high 14 points and eight rebounds.
Nendah Tarke had a double-double, tallying 12 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.
Justin Steers had an all -around game, contributing 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Coppin's physicality sparked offensive momentum, as 50 of their points were derived from points in the paint and made free-throws. They attacked the glass efficiently, which resulted in 14 second chance points. Defensively, the Eagles forced 13 turnovers for Canisius, and generated 18 points off-of the Golden Griffins turnovers.
Coppin and Canisius kept it close throughout the entire game, as both teams had multiple runs in the first half. The Eagles trailed the Golden Griffins the entire duration of the first half, however Tarke and Steers scored 11 straight points to cut the Griffins lead to two. Zarzuela scored 14 of his points in the first half alone. By the end of the half, Coppin trailed by five with a score of 44-39.
James started the second half with six straight points, to place Coppin at a one-point lead.
Mike Hood found rhythm with five straight points after a steal to a layup from James to then secure a seven-point Eagles lead (61-54). The Golden Griffins responded with back-to-back threes to deflate the Eagles run, until Steers scored an and one layup to generate a 6-0 Eagles run with three minutes left of play. CSU maintained a lead until Jordan Henderson hit a big three to tie the game at 75-75 with 36 seconds left to go. Jacco Fritz secured possession for Canisius and ended up getting to the line with one second left in the game, and proceeded to hit a game winning free throw.
Coppin hoops will be facing East Carolina on Saturday, November 27 in the Minges Coliseum. Tip off is 4pm.
