OXFORD, Ohio – Eastern Illinois' Corey Sawyer hit a layup with just over five seconds remaining to give Eastern Illinois a 48-46 victory over Coppin State on Saturday afternoon on the campus of Miami Ohio for the Miami Classic. The Eagles fell to 0-6 on the season while the Panthers improved to 2-3.
Camaren Sparrow led all players with a season-high 12 points to go with five rebounds and a pair of steals while
Toto Fagbenle,
Aa'Reyon Jones and
Greg Spurlock had eight points apiece. Fagbenle had a career-high 11 rebounds and blocked a pair of shots. Jones and Spurlock stuffed the stat-sheet with Jones adding five rebounds, four assists and four steals while Spurlock tallied four rebounds and three steals.
Zahree Harrison contributed with five points, two assists and two steals,
Justin Winston hit his only shot attempt for three points, and
Malik Battle chipped in with a pair of points.
Eastern Illinois outshot Coppin 45.0% to 32.7%, but Coppin forced 20 turnovers and turned that into 20 points of their own. Coppin outrebounded EIU, 30-29, the first time that the Eagles have won the battle on the boards this season.
How it Happened
- In a low-scoring first half, Coppin held the edge early and held an 11-7 lead after jumpers from Harrison and Spurlock as well as a layup by Jones.
- Eastern Illinois retook the lead with back-to-back threes before Jones buried one for the Eagles to put the Eagles back on top.
- The Panthers once again hit a pair of threes, but Fagbenle answered with a dunk after a nifty drive-and-dump from Jones.
- After another four-straight points by EIU, Sparrow hit a jumper before Spurlock beat the buzzer from near midcourt to make it a 23-21 deficit at the half.
- Fagbenle hit a jumper in the paint to start the second half and tie the score, and the Eagles built a five-point lead following a three by Winston and a pair of free throws by Sparrow with 13:35 remaining.
- The lead evaporated, but CSU continued to maintain a lead throughout most of the second half.
- Fagbenle followed up a missed layup with a slam, giving the Eagles a 44-42 lead with 1:27 to play.
- EIU tied the score with a pair of free throws at the other end and regained the lead with a jumper with 38 ticks on the clock.
- Sparrow hit a midrange jumper with 22 seconds remaining, before the Panthers hit the game-winner with just over five seconds left.
- The Eagles had an opportunity to tie or take the lead at the buzzer but missed a potential go-ahead three from the left wing.
Up Next: Coppin will have a week off before traveling to Philadelphia to face La Salle in a 1 pm tipoff on Sunday, November 26.
