Box Score
BALTIMORE, Md. – Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.) scored 24 points to lead a season-high five Norfolk State players in double figures as the Spartans defeated Coppin State 87-77 on Saturday afternoon at the Coppin Center.
After losing 10 straight, the Spartans (3-10, 1-1 MEAC) have now won two in a row. They did it by recording season highs in points (87) and field-goal percentage (64 percent) against the defending conference tournament champion Eagles (2-14, 0-2), who eliminated NSU from the MEAC semifinals last March en route to the title.
Despite shooting 56 percent from the floor while holding CSU to 29 percent, NSU led by just two points, 36-34, at the half. The Spartans had nine turnovers in the opening 20 minutes, and Coppin State shot 18 free throws, making 13, to stay close. NSU led by as many as eight points in the first period, but CSU slowly rallied, and took the lead at 33-32 on a layup by Sam Coleman. But Spartan sub Kevin Worsley (Chesapeake, Va.) scored a layup of his own with 48 seconds left in the half to give the Spartans the edge going into the intermission.
The Spartans responded to the tight first half with their best second-half effort of the season. NSU scored 51 points after halftime on 73 percent shooting from the floor (19-of-26), another season-best.
Preseason MEAC Player of the Year Tywain McKee hit a 3-pointer just more than a minute into the second half to give CSU a 37-36 lead, but Deloach and Corey Lyons (Bronx, N.Y.) scored four points each in an 8-0 run that gave NSU a 44-37 lead. NSU would lead the rest of the way, stretching the advantage to as much as 16.
McKee did his best to keep the Eagles close, scoring 20 second-half points. He made the last of his five 3-pointers with 2:26 remaining to get CSU within 76-70. But Lyons scored four straight to put the game away.
Lyons scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half. James Williams (Miramar, Fla.) scored a career-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including 3-of-4 from behind the 3-point arc. Kyle O'Quinn (Jamaica, N.Y.) registered his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. He also blocked three shots. Brandon Monroe (Raeford, N.C.) added 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting, and added two blocks of his own.
Deloach was 10-of-15 from the floor and handed out seven assists. Point guard Aleek Pauline (Jamaica, N.Y.) also had seven assists, a career high.
McKee scored a game-high 27, but shot just 6-of-18. Coleman added 18 points and Vince Goldsberry 11.
The Spartans continue their road trip Monday at preseason MEAC favorite Morgan State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Hill Field House.
