Box Score
BALTIMORE, Md. – It took a pair of buzzer-beating shots and heroics from a number of different players, but visiting Norfolk State was somehow able to gut out a 110-108 win over Coppin State on Monday night at the Eagles' Physical Education Complex, stretching NSU's win streak to five.
Reigning MEAC Player of the Week Kyle O'Quinn scored the last of his career-high 37 points on two free throws with 4.5 seconds left in the second overtime to break a 108-all tie. Coppin State's Akeem Ellis missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer as the Spartans (7-13, 5-3) escaped.
And escape, they did. NSU trailed by four with 13.2 seconds left in regulation, only to get clutch 3-pointers by Marcos Tamares and Chris McEachin – the latter with 0.2 seconds left – to send the game into OT tied at 83.
The Spartans controlled the first OT throughout, eventually taking a 92-85 lead with 1:10 remaining. But NSU lost its touch from the foul line, missing five of its last eight in the first extra session to leave the door ajar for the Eagles (10-10, 5-3). Michael Harper took advantage, capping a furious Eagle rally with a traditional three-point play with six seconds left on the clock to give CSU a 97-95 edge. He scored 11 of CSU's final 12 points in the first OT.
Then it was NSU senior guard Aleek Pauline's turn to play hero. His driving bucket as the clock expired knotted the score at 97-all and forced a second OT.
There were four ties and five lead-changes in the second overtime alone. An Antonio Williams free throw put the Eagles up 108-105 with 51 seconds left in the second OT, but Spartan freshman Pendarvis Williams buried his third trey of the night to tie the game with 43 seconds remaining.
Harper missed a jumper at the other end, and Rodney McCauley rebounded for NSU. The Spartans then worked the ball inside to O'Quinn, who drew a foul from Williams and buried his two free throws to win the game for NSU.
O'Quinn registered his ninth double-double of the season. In addition to his career-high scoring tally, he tied his career best with 19 rebounds – matching his effort at the same building last March. He was 13-of-18 from the floor, 1-of-2 from long distance, and 10-of-13 from the charity stripe. He also blocked six shots.
McEachin (19) and Pendarvis Williams (17) also registered season highs in scoring. McEachin, who fouled out late in the first OT, matched his career high from his sophomore year at Radford, while Williams buried all six of his field goal attempts en route to the best scoring night of his young career. Pauline just missed a triple-double with 14 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. Rob Hampton contributed 13 points.
Harper had 27 points and Ellis 20 to pace the Eagles. Ceslovas Kucinskas added 16, Vince Goldsberry 13 and Tony Gallo 10.
The win snapped the Spartans' five-game overtime losing streak, dating to a 78-77 OT win at Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 9, 2008. The Spartans had also not topped the 100-point mark since a 102-86 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Feb. 12, 2000.
The 218 combined points are the most in any NSU basketball game since the Spartans beat Shaw 134-90 (224 combined points) during the 1986-87 season.
NSU will try to keep up its winning ways when it returns to the road for a MEAC game at UMES on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. in Princess Anne, Md.
