Early Second-Half Run Propels Boston U. Past Norfolk State
NORFOLK, Va. – Down by two at the break, Boston University opened the second half on a 21-4 run, and the Norfolk State men’s basketball team was unable to completely overcome that hole in a 71-63 loss on Wednesday night at Joseph Echols Hall.
The Spartans got career nights from their two Division I transfers, Jeff Short and Malik Thomas, as each posted career highs in points. The duo accounted for 47 of the team’s 63 points in the non-conference matchup with the Terriers.
The Terriers hit 21-of-42 (50 percent) for the game while holding the Spartans to 20-of-52 shooting (38.5 percent). John Papele led BU with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, which included a 5-of-9 effort from the 3-point line.
Cedric Hankerson added 16 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals, with Nathan Dieudonne (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Justin Alston (13 points) also reaching double figures for BU.
Senior LaTre’e Russell added seven points to the Spartan scoring effort.
The Terriers connected on 9-of-21 (42.9 percent) from long range for the game, while NSU shot just 5-of-23 (21.7 percent). The Spartans did have a 21-13 edge in points off turnovers, as BU finished the game with 17 giveaways.
NSU will host Texas Southern on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Echols Hall.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Coppin State drops road contest to Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Three Coppin State players scored in double figures during its 104-67 loss to the University of Notre Dame in a non-conference contest at the Purcell Pavilion Wednesday night.
For the second time in three games on this road trip, Arnold Fripp led Coppin State in scoring. He finished with 14 points. Sterling Smith added a season-high 12 points on a quartet of 3-pointers for the Eagles (0-3 overall). Taariq Cephas chipped in with 11 points for Coppin State.
Making his first career start, Lawrence Fejokwu scored eight points and Shomari Triggs scored a season-best seven points. Coppin State made eight of its 3-pointers in the second half.
The Eagles were hurt by a slow start in which Notre Dame scored the first 14 points of the game. Overall, Notre Dame shot 20-for-28 in the opening 20 minutes. The Fighting Irish had four players score at least eight points in the first half.
Coppin State finishes its four-game road trip Sunday afternoon when it visits the University of Denver at 3:00 p.m. Notre Dame will participate in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic Saturday in Uncasville (Ct.) against Massachusetts Saturday afternoon.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
Hawks notch first victory under Bobby Collins
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball team earned their first victory of the Bobby Collins era with a 53-41 final over Mount St. Mary’s. UMES (1-2) spoiled the home opener for the Mountaineers with a double-digit win on the road.
The Hawks’ defensive effort and strong rebounding propelled the team to victory. UMES held their opponents to under 30% shooting percentage for the evening. The Hawks won the rebounding battle, 38 to 26, and limited the Mount to just six second chance points. In all, UMES held Mount St. Mary’s to just 41 points, the first time the Hawks have allowed fewer than 50 points since February 25, 2013 vs. Howard.
Devon Walker led the team with 14 points, often scoring in clutch situations. Dominique Elliott stepped up his performance with all seven of his rebounds coming in the second half. Mike Myers put up a workmanlike seven points and seven rebounds in the low post.
UMES’ win comes against a Mount St. Mary’s team that won the NEC Tournament a year ago, appearing in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. It was the Hawks’ second win against their in-state foe in the past two seasons, defeating the Mountaineers, 78-71 last year. The 12-point victory was also the Hawks’ first road non-conference win by double digits in over twenty years, since they won at Navy by the score 82-71 on December 11, 1993. Coincidentally, the 1993-1994 season was the last year UMES posted an overall winning record.
The Hawks play the second game of a back-to-back against #15 ranked Virginia Commonwealth on Thursday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, Va. Hawks fans can catch all the action on the Hawks Radio Network powered by SFMSports.Net and the new flagship station Fox Sports 960 AM WTGM in Salisbury, Md.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
Late second half run lifts Mean Green by Hornets
DENTON, Texas --- North Texas used a late second half run to shake off pesky Delaware State 62-55 in the first-ever meeting between the teams at the Super Pit this evening. The loss was the first of the season for the Hornets (2-1), while the Mean Green improved to 3-0.
The defeat also overshadowed the performance by Delaware State center Kendall Gray, who tallied 12 points and tied his career-high with 13 rebounds to record his second straight double-double and 14th in his career. Gray also blocked four shots to tie the DSU career record of 222, sharing the mark with Marques Oliver (2009-13). The contest marked the 27th time that Gray has blocked at least four in a game in his career.
DeAndre Haywood led the Hornets in scoring for the third straight game, collecting 18 points, highlighted by four-of-five shooting from three-point territory. Haywood has 59 points in the first three games to lead DSU with a 19.7 point per-game average.
Tyshawn Bell also hit four-of-five three-pointers en route to a 16-point performance.
Delaware State was 21-for-52 from the field (41.2%), including eight-of-21 from beyond the arc (38.1%).
North Texas hit 22 of its 54 shots from the field (40.7%), including six from three-point range (6-21; 28.6%).
The Mean Green won the rebound battle, 36-32. North Texas was averaging 50 rebounds per game entering the contest.
The Hornets will return to action on Friday (Nov. 21) at the University Arkansas. Game time is 8:30 p.m. (ET) at the Bud Walton Center in Fayetteville, Ark. The game will be televised live on the SEC (Southeastern Conference) Network.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com