Second half burst carries Coppin past Chestnut Hill

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Terry Harris led five players in double figures with his fourth consecutive double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) to lead Coppin State to a 92-75 conquest of visiting Chestnut Hill College in a non-conference men's basketball game at the Physical Education Complex Monday night.

Through four games, Harris is averaging 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds. He is tied for the national lead in double-doubles with Georgia Tech's Charles Mitchell and FIU's Adrian Diaz. They all have four double-doubles this season. Harris also entered Monday's game ranked 44th nationally in rebounding.

Junior Christian Kessee also scored 17 points for the Eagles, who raised their overall record to 2-2 by defeating their second consecutive opponent from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). Keith Shivers and James Sylvester added 13 points. Josh Treadwell reached double digits for the third straight game with 10 points.

Coppin State also discovered its touch from deep as it made a season-best nine 3-pointers.

While the offense was solid scoring 46 points in each half, Coppin State did its best work on the defensive end especially in the second half during a game-altering 25-4 blitz over an eight-minute stretch of the second half that gave the Eagles the separation they needed to subdue the feisty Griffins (1-3 overall).

"Coach was pretty upset with us at halftime because we had allowed 40 points," Harris said. "He challenged us and told us to pick up the intensity. We still have some room to grow as a team, but I think we can have a good season if we stay focused and continue to play smart."

Clinging to a 50-47 edge with 16 minutes remaining, Jerimyjah Batts started the burst with a follow-up basket and Trevon Seymore capped it with a deep 3-pointer that swelled Coppin State's bulge to 75-51.

During this brilliant stretch of hoops, Coppin State applied a tourniquet and locked Chestnut Hill up in a straitjacket. In 14 consecutive Chestnut Hill possessions, Coppin State forced eight turnovers and four missed shots during that eight-minute stretch of defensive dominance. At times it appeared as if Coppin State had seven players on the floor as Chestnut Hill was flummoxed trying to bring the ball up against the Eagles' incessant pressure.

"I think we are getting better defensively," Treadwell said. "Tonight everything started with our defense and we stepped up our pressure especially in the full-court. We were in the right spots which helped fuel our offense. It was good to defend like that for a sustained stretch of the second half because it shows our potential."

Chestnut Hill, which scored the first seven points of the contest, threw down four dunks and was led in scoring by Luke Dickson's 15 points. However, he scored four points over the final 33 minutes of the game. Shivers did a terrific job on the Griffins' leading scorer during the second half.

Coppin State finishes its three-game homestand with a contest against local rival Towson Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION