ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Despite a game-high 24 points from
Sam Sessoms, Coppin State's men's basketball team fell at South Carolina State, 94-84, on Saturday afternoon at S-H-M Memorial Center. The Eagles fall 6-19 overall while the Bulldogs move to 4-20 and both teams stand at 1-7 in the MEAC.
Inside the Numbers
- Sessoms hit 7-of-15 from the field and 9-of-10 from the line to lead all scorers, and he also dished out seven assists along with two steals. Sessoms scored 21 of his points in the second half.
- Nendah Tarke finished with 18 points and a team-high seven rebounds while Kam'Ron Blue went for 15 points with three 3-pointers.
- Justin Steers and Mike Hood scored nine points apiece while Alex Rojas pitched in with eight points.
- The Eagles shot an impressive 53.1% from the field and hit 25-of-35 free throws, but the Bulldogs shot even better, making 58.7% from the floor with 11 3-pointers. SC State had 29 assists on 37 made baskets with three players dishing out at least seven dimes.
How it Happened
- South Carolina State led from start to finish, opening the game on a 7-2 run, but Coppin kept the game close throughout.
- The Bulldogs extended their lead to as many as 26-16 in the first half with just under ten minutes left, but Coppin bounced back to tie the score at 34 apiece as Blue hit back-to-back threes and Rojas went for five points during the run.
- SC State closed the first half on a 7-3 run to go into the break with a 41-37 lead.
- After a pair of free throws from Steers with 11:34 left in regulation cut the deficit to 65-61, the Bulldogs scored eight-straight points and the Eagles got no closer than 82-78 with 4:15 left following a layup from Sessoms.
- Fourteen of Sessoms' points came in the final 8:44 of the game.
Up Next: Coppin will look to bounce back in two days when it travels to take on N.C. Central in a 7:30 pm tipoff on Monday, February 13.
