DURHAM, N.C. – Coppin State's men's basketball team shot just 30.6% from the floor compared to 53.2% for N.C. Central in a 85-52 loss at McDougald-McClendon Arena on Monday night. CSU now stands at 6-20 overall and 1-8 in the MEAC while NCCU moves to 12-11 on the year and 5-4 in league play.
Inside the Numbers
- Sam Sessoms scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting with a pair of threes to lead Coppin State.
- Mike Hood added eight points while Luka Tekavcic had the best game of his career, recording seven points, six rebounds and three assists, all of which were career-highs.
- Nendah Tarke and Christian Sutton added six points apiece for the Navy & Gold as Tarke matched Sessoms with a team-high two steals.
- Four NC Central players finished in double figures, led by Kris Monroe who had a career-high 25 points and 16 rebounds.
- N.C. Central held a 42-24 advantage on the glass, recording 38 points in the paint.
How it Happened
- NC Central never trailed in the game, opening the matchup on a 13-1 run before a three by Sessoms at the 15:06 mark.
- Sessoms also had the next five points for Coppin as his second three of the game cut the deficit to 18-9 with 13:23 remaining.
- The host Eagles extended their lead to as many as 47-26 in the first half before a three by Hood and a mid-range jumper from Sessoms made it a 47-31 halftime score.
- Central started the second half with 12 straight points before Hood hit all three free throws with 15:35 left to play.
- Tekavcic made CSU's first field goal of the second half with 11:14 remaining as he drove from the top of the key and converted on the old-fashioned three-point play.
Up Next: Coppin returns to Baltimore for Homecoming when it hosts Howard in a 4:00 pm tipoff at PEC Arena on Saturday, February 18.
