BALTIMORE – Nendah Tarke converted on a three-point play with just under five seconds left to lift the Coppin State men’s basketball team to an 83-81 win over Howard on Monday night at PEC Arena. The Eagles improve to 4-15 overall and 3-1 in the MEAC while the Bison fall to 7-9 on the year and 1-2 in league play.
Trailing 81-80 after a Howard timeout, Tarke recovered a loose ball following a tipped pass by Tyree Corbett and hit a jumper despite the contact. Tarke buried the free throw and the Bison last-second effort came up short and the Eagles enjoyed their second raucous celebration in the last three games.
Tarke had an impressive all-around game with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals while Corbett notched his second 20-20 game of the season with 25 points and 22 rebounds. Corbett made 9-of-17 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line.
IT’S A COPPIN STTTTTTTAAAAATTTTTTEEEEE VICTORY!!@TyreeCorbett2 tips away the attempted pass. @Nenderrss_ gets the ball & puts in the ‘And1’ which was the game winner in an 83-81 result over Howard.
Eagles came back from 26 down to win it! @WBALPete @TheYardHBCU @coppinsports pic.twitter.com/KXqxZm9Onb
— Keith Henry (@KeithHenry11) January 25, 2022
Kyle Cardaci and Jesse Zarzuela also finished in double figures, recording 16 points and 15 points, respectively. Cardaci hit five 3-pointers on the night while Zarzuela hit 7-of-10 from the stripe and dished out four assists to match Tarke.
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The victory did not come easy as CSU trailed 39-13 with 8:48 remaining in the first half but closed the period on a 28-11 run to pull within 50-41 at the half.
Zarzuela opened the second half with five-straight points, and following a Howard three, Sita Conteh hit a floater to pull the Eagles within five. The Bison quickly extended their lead back to double digits, but CSU kept within striking distance before its final push with just under five minutes left.
Howard hit a pair of free throws with 4:46 remaining to go up 77-68, but Coppin went on a 9-0 run with Tarke driving in for a basket to tie the score with 58 seconds to go.
After four-straight free throws by Howard, Coppin had back-to-back old-fashioned three-point plays to pick up the win.
Courtesy: Coppin State Athletics
