ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Four Eagles scored in double figures as Coppin State's men's basketball team hung on to defeat South Carolina State, 59-57, on Monday night at SHM Memorial Center. Winners of three-straight games, Coppin improved to 6-21 overall and 4-6 in the MEAC while the Bulldogs fell to 6-18 on the year and 4-4 in league play.
DeMariontay Hall and
Hussain Williams scored 12 points apiece to lead all players while
Khali Horton and
Jamari Piercy added 11 points each.
Camaren Sparrow followed with six points while leading the Eagles in rebounds (7), assists (3), blocks (2), and steals (2).
Coppin outshot South Carolina State, 51.2% to 37.9% but committed 19 turnovers which helped the hosts stay in the game with 23 points off turnovers.
SC State led by as many as 28-20 with 1:34 left in the first half as both teams struggled to score in the first 20 minutes. Horton responded with a jumper on the ensuing possession and Coppin went into the locker room with just a six-point deficit.
CSU regained the lead with 14:09 left in regulation following a dunk by Sparrow before the teams traded baskets. Coppin's largest lead came at 55-49 with just over four minutes left before the thrilling final minutes.
Following two made free throws by SC State made it a 55-53 ballgame, Coppin called timeout. The Eagles went to Hall inside, and he converted on a fallaway jumper with 35 seconds to play. SC State took over 20 seconds on its next possession but came away with two more free throws to pull within two once again with 14 seconds remaining. Piercy answered with two free throws after a quick foul before the Bulldogs hit a jumper six seconds later.
After another timeout, the Eagles missed the front half of a 1-and-1 and SC State's potential game-winning shot was off at the buzzer.
Coppin will look to extend its win streak to four games when it welcomes Maryland Eastern Shore to PEC for Homecoming on Saturday, February 21 at 4:30 pm. The Eagles have not won four-straight games since the 2010-11 season when it defeated SC State, UMES, Delaware State and North Carolina A&T from January 17-29, 2011.
