NORFOLK, Va. --- First team All-MEAC selection Justin Black poured in a game-high 30 points and Ian Chiles was a presence on defense and offense to lead Morgan State University to a 79-64 win over Coppin State in the semifinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament at the Norfolk Scope. 

The Bears (16-13), the Number 3 seed, will take on North Carolina Central, the Number 1 seed, for the championship on Saturday at 6 pm.  The game will be televised live in ESPNU.

Morgan State took control of the game from the tip and built a 47-28 lead at the half.  Black tallied 23 of his points in the first 20 minutes while Chiles, a 7-2 first team All-MEAC selection, added eight points, five rebounds, but more importantly, established a defensive presence with three blocked shots.

“Justin had an outstanding game and we expect nothing less of him,” said Morgan State head coach Todd Bozeman. 

The Eagles (12-20), the Number 7 seed, relies heavily on the three-point shot, but the Morgan State defense took it away, forcing them into a 3 of 10 shooting performance and 9 of 28 overall.

“Tonight we came out ready to play,” said Coppin State head coach Ron “Fang” Mitchell. “But we didn’t do a good job on the boards and I think they muscled us as the game went along.  All the credit to Morgan. We couldn’t find (Justin) Black, and if you can’t find Black, you’re in trouble.  Morgan had a tremendous first half and put us in the hole.”

The Bears continued to throttle the Eagles offense with its defense.  Coppin State shot 34 percent from the field for the game.  Morgan State held a 48-30 advantage in points in the paint and a 17-6 advantage in second chance opportunities.

Andre Armstrong paced the Eagles with 13 points and Sterling Smith contributed 12 off the bench for Coppin State.

“He’s 7 feet and that changes a lot of shots,” said Armstrong.  “You have to be relentless against him.  I thought we rushed some shots, but he definitely alters your shots.”

In addition to Black’s 30, Chiles finished with 18, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots.  Anthony Hubbard chipped in with 12 and a career-high nine assists.

The Bears played the Eagles, who have a 19-game win streak once during the season and lost 53-52.