BALTIMORE – DeMariontay Hall posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds as Coppin State's men's basketball team's season came to an end in a 70-66 loss at Morgan State on Thursday night at Hill Field House. The Eagles finish up at 7-23 overall and 5-9 in the MEAC while the Bears improved to 14-15 on the year and 10-4 in league play.
A senior from Atlanta, Ga., Hall made 5-of-13 shots from the floor and 4-of-6 from the line to lead the team in scoring. Hall's double-double was his third of the season, and he also blocked a career-high four shots in his final collegiate game.
Fellow seniors,
Torrin Andrews and
Hassan Perkins were also in double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively. They were followed up by juniors
Hussain Williams with eight points, and
Jamari Piercy with six points. Piercy matched Hall with four blocks, accounting for eight of the Eagles' season-high 11 blocks for the game.
Morgan State outshot Coppin, 40.0% to 37.3% while hitting nine 3-pointers and 9-of-12 from the line. The Eagles made just six shots from downtown but buried 16-of-21 from the line and held a 42-40 advantage on the glass.
The clash between the two crosstown rivals featured eight ties and 16 lead changes as neither team led by more than six points. Morgan held a slim 34-32 advantage at the half and the early parts of the second half played like the first with both teams battling on both sides of the floor.
CSU led 52-46 with 9:46 left in regulation, its largest lead of the game, but Morgan scored eight-straight to regain the lead. A three by Andrews with 1:10 remaining put Coppin back on top, 64-63, before a pair of Morgan State free throws gave the hosts back the lead.
With Coppin leading, 66-65, following a layup by Andrews with 23 seconds remaining, Morgan came right back with a go-ahead basket by Elijah Davis with ten seconds to go. The Eagles had two opportunities at their end to retake the lead but came up empty.
Coppin fouled following the miss and Morgan hit a pair of free throws to extend its advantage to 69-66 with two seconds left. Following a timeout, Coppin's Hail Mary pass beyond midcourt was intercepted as Morgan escaped with the victory.
