Bears ride second half surge, beat Coppin State 86-68 - Morgan State University Athletics

Box Score BALTIMORE, Md. -- Blake Bozeman scored a career-high 16 points to go with eight assists and five other Morgan State players scored in double figures in the Bears' 86-68 win over Coppin State on Wednesday night.

DeWayne Jackson and Shaquille Duncan tallied 14 points, Justin Black 13, Anthony Hubbard 11, and Ian Chiles 10. Duncan also pulled down 11 boards for Morgan State (11-14, 7-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), which outrebounded Coppin State 38-32.

Morgan State built an 11-point first-half lead before Coppin State (6-23, 3-11) rallied and went ahead by as many as nine before taking a 38-36 advantage into halftime.

The Eagles shot a blistering 53 percent (9-17) from beyond the arc in the first half, but was limited to just three 3-pointers (3-12) in the second half.

"That was one of the things we wanted to focus on — to guard them at the 3-point line," Todd Bozeman said. "The approach I took at the half was that they made nine 3s and shot [53 percent], and we were only down two. I thought that was a good sign. If I'm on the other end of that, I'm a little concerned, because how much better can you shoot it."

The Bears, however, opened the second half on a 20-7 run to rally and retake the lead, 54-45.

Coppin State never got any closer than four the rest of the way.

Morgan State shot 57 percent (28 of 49) and dished out 21 assists.

Andre Armstrong's 24 points led Coppin State.

"We've had the pieces all year. It's just now, at the perfect time, we seem to be clicking," said Blake Bozeman. "Everybody is buying in and doing the things that we've expected since the preseason."

Winners in five of its last six games played to climb above .500 in conference play, Morgan State will host Md-Eastern Shore in a MEAC matchup on Saturday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Hill Field House.

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