BALTIMORE, Md. -- Morgan State opened their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Title defense with a hard fought 70-64 win over crosstown rival Coppin State at Hill Field House tonight before a crowd of 3,107.
The improved the Bears record to 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the MEAC. The win also marked the sixth consecutive victory for Morgan State against the Eagles.
Coppin State (2-3, 0-1) entered the game focused on stopping
Kevin Thompson, one of the top post players in the MEAC. However, it was forward
DeWayne Jackson that caused a ruckus for the Eagles, scoring a game-high 24 points on the evening.
Thompson who entered the contest averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds per game, was limited to a season-low seven points and eight rebounds on the night. But the Eagles could not stop Jackson or junior swingman
Aric Brooks at crunch time.
The second half was the focal point of this game. With 16:11 left and Morgan State ahead 45-32, Coppin really started defending the ball and cutting into that lead. The Eagles drove to the basket and started forcing Morgan fouls. They also got some help from the outside in the form of Akeem Ellis who led the Eagles with 20 points on the evening. Ellis nailed a couple of three pointers. Then point guard Tony Gallo nailed a 17-footer while he was fouled by
Larry Bastfield with 3:20 left. Gallo made the free throw to give Coppin a 59-58 lead.
Gallo posted 17 points and dished out six assists for the Eagles.
Later on, with the game tied at 61, it was Brooks who sealed the Eagles' fate by nailing a three point shot from deep with 1:43 left in regulation.
“I felt that he's [Aric] probably had one really good game," said MSU head coach
Todd Bozeman . "But I felt as though he's been forcing the action and we're trying to get all the guys to just relax and let the game come to them. He hit some big shots for us, no question about it.”
Brooks finished with 13 points (3-5 3FG), seven rebounds and four assists.
“I'm happy about the win," explained Brooks, "but we should've finished the game off better. You got to be able to keep your foot on the opponent's neck. We let them get back into the game. But we finished the game by hitting free throws, hitting key shots and making key steals.”
Coppin cut the lead down to two on a couple of occasions late. But Morgan State put it away with their free throw shooting. The Bears finished the game by converting 18-of-20 free throws, including a perfect 13-for-13 in the second half.
Morgan is off for two weeks during final exams and will not take to the court again until December 18 when they host UMBC in Hill Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
