The Coppin State men’s basketball team made 15 3-pointers and had 13 players mark up the scoring column during its 103-50 victory over Division II Goldey-Beacom College Monday night in the Physical Education Complex Arena. The Eagles scored 100 points in a game for the first time since a 110-108 loss to Norfolk State on Jan. 31, 2011.
It was also the first Coppin State victory for new head men’s basketball coach Michael Grant. Coppin State improved to 1-4 on the season.
Coppin State’s balance, depth, accurate shooting and dynamic defense were too much for the visiting Lightning (2-4). Leading the Eagles in scoring were senior Arnold Fripp and junior Shomari Triggs with 15 points each. Senior guard Taariq Cephas added 14 points for the Eagles, who won their home opener after a brutal four-game road trip to begin the season.
The Eagles finished with their highest point total of the young season. Coppin State shot a season-best 50.7 percent (34-for-67). Everybody had a piece of the action in some fashion for Coppin State. While inboxes everywhere were being flooded with discounted coupons and promo codes, the Eagles stuffed the stat sheet as 13 players grabbed at least one rebound and eight players made at least one 3-pointer.
Van Rolle and Christian Kessee, making his first career start, finished with nine points each. Triggs and Rolle established career-high point totals.
Overall, Coppin State’s bench produced 41 of its 62 points after intermission. With Grant subbing players in-and-out frequently during the game, the scorers’ table resembled Union Station during rush
There were plenty of highlights once the Eagles found their groove after an early 16-10 deficit seven minutes into the contest. Triggs was the catalyst for the Eagles. Proving to be a quicker-picker upper, the 5 foot, 8 inch sparkplug guard scored five quick points to help the Eagles get going.
Triggs, who played 12 minutes, made 6-of-8 shots and averaged more than a point per minute. Sterling Smith gave the Eagles the lead for good, 22-20, with a 3-pointer with 8 minutes, 11 seconds remaining. That kickstarted a 26-10 burst to end the first-half for Coppin State.
The Lightning scored 30 points over the remaining 28 minutes of the contest. Coppin State’s defense held Goldey-Beacom scoreless for the first seven minutes of the second half. The Eagles scored the first 20 points of the second half to extend their bulge to 66-30.
During the second half, Rolle excited the crowd by making three consecutive 3-pointers from deep on the court in seven minutes while Jerimyjah Batts’ one-handed dunk brought the house down midway through the second half.
Goldey-Beacom got 10 points each from Chris Gebhart and Patrick Ridgeway-Higgs.
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