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Feb. 4, 2008
BALTIMORE, Md. - Ed Tyson was an unstoppable force in the Coppin Center on the campus of Coppin State University (CSU). Unfortunately for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), Coppin didn't have to worry about the rest of the Hawks, as they combined for less than half of the teams' points in a 59-54 loss to the Eagles of CSU. "Ed Tyson was outstanding," said Interim Head Coach Meredith Smith. "However, we don't have anyone else to score. We have to play the hand we are dealt and we tried everything and no one else would step up and provide any more offense tonight," added Smith. "We can't win when Tyson is the only one scoring." Tyson was sensational as he went 10-18 from the floor and 2-6 from downtown for his 30 points. Marc Davis, a Baltimore native along with Tyson, scored 11 points while Denzel Jackson added eight points and 14 rebounds. All three were starters while the two remaining starters and the bench combined for just five points, a three pointer from Gary Lee and a field goal from B.J. Nimocks. In a battle of two teams who were winless in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) standings, the game was evenly matched. There would be 13 lead changes and nine ties as UMES (2-21, 0-8 MEAC) was up 47-46 when CSU's A'Daeron Duncan would convert a lay-in to give Coppin State (5-19, 1-8 MEAC) the one point advantage with 6:29 to play. At the 5:40 mark Duncan would strike again on a thunderous fast break dunk that would shift the momentum to the Eagles for good giving then a 50-47 edge. Jackson would be the next person to score but it was over two minutes later, cutting the lead to one. Ceslovas Kucinskas would hit a jumper moments later and Tywain McKee would drain a three-pointer to make it 55-49 with less than two minutes to play and put it out of reach for the Hawks.
Kucinskas would make the margin as many as eight near the end but the Hawks' final five points would come from Tyson and the final margin would be 59-54 in favor of Coppin State. McKee would lead CSU with 14 points while Kucinskas would add 13. Antwan Harrison would score in double figures as well with 10 points. The Eagles shot a blistering 46.3 percent for the game and 40 percent from behind the arc. The hot shooting and balanced scoring, 10 of the 11 players who saw the court scored, were the keys to the win. Despite not scoring, UMES did win the battle on the glass, 36-27 and scored more points off of turnovers and second chance points. "We have to put the ball in the basket," said Smith. "We just aren't doing that." UMES looks to get their scoring elevated on Saturday, February 9 when they host Howard University. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. in the W.P. Hytche Center. UMES won their only MEAC game of the year in the regular-season finale last season at Howard. |
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