OLEAN, N.Y. After a strong first half, the Coppin State men's basketball team fell 93-81 to St. Bonaventure Wednesday night at the Reilly Center.
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Coppin (1-10) trailed by just four points going into halftime, 44-40, but was outscored 57-37 in the second half.
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Jesse Zarzuela scored a game-high 27 points, as he shot 50% from the field and hit four threes (4-of-9).Â
Tyree Corbett was the second leading scorer for the Eagles and led the team in rebounds, finishing the night with a double-double 17 and 10.Â
Nendah Tarke showed versatility as he scored in double figures with 16 points and six rebounds, and led the team in steals (5) and assists (4).
Justin Steers contributed with eight points in the first half along with two rebounds while
Mike Hood hit two threes with two assists. The Eagles offense was derived through their defensive tenacity as they outnumbered St. Bonaventure in steals, totaling nine steals as a team, and scored 13 points off of turnovers.Â
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Corbett scored seven straight points for Coppin which placed St. Bonaventure at an 11-point deficit. Tarke was a prominent force in the first half with 11 points.  The Eagles momentum defensively drove them through the first half as they outnumbered the Bonnies with 16 defensive boards.Â
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The Bonnies responded with a 15-0 run, as Coppin trailed by 12 in the second half.Â
Reggie James and Zarzuela scored back-to-back layups with six minutes left to cut St. Bonaventure's lead into single digits. Coppin's defense prevailed as Hood and Tarke snatched back-to-back steals, which resulted in five straight points for the Eagles, which placed them down only seven. Zarzuela hit a big three with 1:27 left to go which placed Coppin within six (87-81). In the last minute of play, the Bonnies went on a 6-0 run to bring the lead back to double digits and secured the win.
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Coppin will be back in action Friday, December 3 at Cornell. Tip-off will begin at 7pm inside Newman Arena at Bartels Hall.
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