PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – In a tale of two halves, Coppin State's men's basketball team fell at Maryland Eastern Shore, 94-75 on Saturday afternoon at Hytche Center. The Eagles fall to 6-17 and 1-5 in the MEAC while the Hawks improve to 12-8 with a 5-1 mark in league play.
Inside the Numbers
- Sam Sessoms led Coppin with 19 points and six rebounds along with three assists. He made all six of his free throws and surpassed the 500-career assist mark with his second assist of the game.
- Kam'Ron Blue made five 3-pointers for 15 points while Mike Hood recorded 16 points with four 3-pointers.
- Justin Steers and Nendah Tarke added seven points apiece with Tarke matching Sessoms with six rebounds to go with five assists. Daniel Titus hit a pair of triples for six points and had six rebounds.
- Coppin's 50 points in the first half was its most of any half this season and the Eagles shot 63.0% in the first 20 minutes which was its best shooting performance in the opening period all season. Coppin hit 10-of-15 (66.7%) from deep in the half. In the second half, CSU shot just 7-of-27 (25.9%) and 4-of-14 from 3-point range.
- Maryland Eastern Shore got 23 points, 12 rebounds and six assists from Nathaniel Pollard along with 20 points five rebounds and eight assists from Zion Styles. The Hawks had 23 assists on 31 made baskets and shot 52.5% from the floor, including an identical 63.0% from the floor in the first half.
How it Happened
- The first half was a three-point shootout as the teams traded several mini-runs and shot a combined 16-of-24 (66.7%) from behind-the-arc in the period.
- Trailing, 31-28 with 8:43 to go, Blue and Hood hit back-to-back threes, and Blue added another moments later, followed by a triple from Tarke at the 4:29 mark to make it a 42-26 lead.
- Sessoms converted on a transition jumped just before the four-minutes media timeout, and he recorded the next six CSU points to keep the Eagles ahead by eight with 2:03 remaining.
- Coppin committed three turnovers in its final three possessions of the first half and Maryland Eastern Shore capitalized with a dunk and back-to-back threes to tie the score at 50-50 after the first half.
- UMES hit a three to open the second half, but Coppin answered with a 7-0 run with layups by Steers and Sessoms sandwiching the fifth 3-pointer on five attempts from Blue.
- The Hawks retook the lead with a three which Tarke answered with a pair of free throws. UMES then went on a 9-0 run before Tarke hit a free throw, cutting the deficit to 65-60.
- Maryland Eastern Shore then hit three-straight 3-pointers, extending its lead to 74-60 with 11:26 remaining and Coppin was unable to get back within double digits the remainder of the game.
Up Next: Coppin hosts Delaware State on Monday, January 30 in a 7:30 pm tipoff.
