HARRISONBURG, Va. – Taj Thweatt led all players with 18 points and the Coppin State men's basketball team outscored James Madison in the second half, but it was not enough as the Eagles fell, 84-70, on Sunday afternoon at Atlantic Union Bank Center. CSU fell to 0-3 on the season while the Dukes improved to 2-1.
Thweatt hit 5-of-9 from the floor, including all three of his 3-pointers and 5-of-6 free throws for his best scoring output of the young season. He also added four rebounds, an assist and two steals.
DeMariontay Hall posted a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds while hitting 7-of-10 free throws while
Hassan Perkins was the third CSU player in double figures with ten points and six assists in his first start of the season.
Hussain Williams added eight points, followed by
Baasil Saunders and
Khali Horton with six points each.
Coppin was outshot, 45.8% to 38.3% as the Dukes hit 14 3-pointers and 16-of-20 free throws. The Eagles made 8-of-15 shots from deep and 26-of-36 (72.2%) free throws while outrebounding JMU, 35-33.
The Dukes took control of the game early on, but Coppin regrouped and turned an early 14-4 deficit into a one-possession game with a 14-6 run, highlighted by a three from Perkins and four points from Thweatt. JMU answered with a jumper on the ensuing possession to start a 9-0 run and held a 20-point lead before Perkins hit another three as the first half expired.
As Coppin outscored the Dukes in the second half, the last-ditch effort came too late as JMU led by as many 76-52 with 6:03 left in regulation.
Coppin heads to the Gulf Coast of Florida where it'll first take on South Florida on Wednesday, November 12 at 7 pm. Two days later, the Eagles take part in the Showdown in St. Pete MTE where they'll face Central Michigan at 11 am on November 14, followed by South Alabama at 11 am on Saturday.
