FAIRFAX, Va. – Coppin State's men's basketball team outscored George Mason in the second half but could not overcome the first half deficit, falling to the Patriots, 68-51, on Friday night at EagleBank Arena. The Eagles fall to 0-2 on the year while the Patriots remain unbeaten at 2-0.
 
Tafara Gapare led Coppin with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting to go with a pair of threes while Brendan Johnson and Malik Shackleford scored eight points apiece. Camaren Sparrow grabbed a team-high four rebounds while Johnson and Daveyon Lydner combined for four of the team's seven assists.
 
Mason outshot Coppin, 45.1% to 38.3% and made 19-of-25 free throws compared to just 11-of-14 for the Eagles.  The hosts also scored 23 points off 18 Coppin turnovers, held a 17-2 advantage in fastbreak points and 36-12 in the paint.
 
Coppin held GMU to just seven field goals in the second half but made just seven of their own.  All 14 of Coppin's free throw attempts came in the second half as well.
 
George Mason scored the first four points of the game before Gapare put Coppin on the board with a three at the 18:18 mark of the first half, cutting the deficit to 4-3. The Patriots answered with eight-straight points and went on a 16-2 run to open a 15-poind lead before a jumper by Baasil Saunders stopped the drought.
 
After trading baskets, the Patriots continued to extend their lead and led 46-23 at the half.
 
Coppin will be at home for the first time this season when it hosts Cheyney in an 11 am Education Day game at PEC Arena on Monday, November 9.