BALTIMORE – Malik Battle scored 16 points while
Ryan Archey and
Justin Winston added 13 points apiece as the Coppin State men's basketball team fell to North Carolina Central, 83-58 on Saturday afternoon at PEC Arena. With the loss, Coppin falls to 2-24 overall and 1-11 in the MEAC while NCCU moved to 16-11 and 8-4 in league play.
A senior from Atlanta, Ga., Battle continued his impressive scoring surge by hitting four 3-pointers and all four of his free throws. Battle was also credited with two rebounds and two assists and is averaging 14.0 points over the last six games.
Winston led Coppin with seven rebounds while making a pair of 3-pointers and all three free throws as Archey drained three 3-pointers.
Camaren Sparrow added nine points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks, followed by
Greg Spurlock with five points, three rebounds and four assists.
Coppin hit ten 3-pointers to match NC Central, but the visitors outshot CSU, 51.8% to 36.5%. NCCU had five players in double figures, led by Keishon Porter with 21 points while Fred Cleveland, Jr., had 13 points with 15 assists.
How it Happened
- Coppin hung in there with NC Central for most of the first half before NCCU began to put some distance between the teams with a 20-7 run over a six-plus minute stretch.
- Archey and Winston recorded buckets in the closing minutes of the period before NC Central hit a layup with two seconds remaining to take a 38-24 halftime lead.
- Winston opened the second half with two free throws and Spurlock nailed a jumper to get CSU within 28-28 with 19:20 left in regulation.
- NCCU scored the next 20 points over the next 5:50 before Battle hit a three at the 12:52 mark.
- Battle hit three more 3-pointers but the visitors maintained a large lead the rest of the way.
Up Next: Coppin State hosts South Carolina State for Senior Night on Monday, March 4 at 7:30 pm. CSU will recognize seniors
Malik Battle,
Isaiah Gross and
Justin Winston prior to tipoff which airs on ESPN+.
