Wright’s Hot Night Helps NCCU Secure 1st MEAC Win

BALTIMORE, MD – NCCU led wire-to-wire as the North Carolina Central University Eagles won their first MEAC contest of the season by defeating the Coppin State Eagles by the score of 64-59.

NCCU came into the game looking to bounce back from that road loss in Overtime against the Morgan State Bears.

However, thanks to NC Central junior guard Justin Wright’s 21 points, nine rebounds and three assists, the Eagles would get their first conference victory and move to .500 on the season.

The NCCU Eagles (8-8 overall, 1-1 MEAC) started the game with a 14-2 run, during the first five minutes until Coppin State’s Redshirt sophomore guard Nendah Tarke (Gaithersburg, MD) put the points on the board. Then, thanks to a three from NCCU, Tarke added a layup, which alleviated the Eagles’ lead to 20-6. Tarke finished the game with 16 points.

Coppin State (6-13 overall and 1-1 MEAC) would go roughly five minutes of consistently missing baskets, thanks to the stellar defense of NCCU. However, CSU was able to generate some moments of offense, as they trailed by as little as two points. NCCU commenced the first half with a 35-24 lead, as they went on a 13-4 run for the final six minutes of the half.

NCCU dominated the first half, thanks to shooting over 55% from the field, as Coppin State only amassed 33%, as they only hit only two three-point attempts.

The second half saw NCCU dominate even more, as they lead by as many as a dozen points with 8:34 remaining. Coppin State refused to go down without a fight, as they hit 12 unanswered baskets to tie the game at 51, with more than five minutes remaining in the contest.

Sam Sessoms, the Redshirt Senior Guard from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania kept Coppin State in the game, thanks to his game-high 21 points – all which occurred during the second half. However, the rally proved too late as NCCU prevailed at the end.

Other contributors for NCCU were ex-Coppin State player and Graduate Student Center Brendan Medley-Bacon (Baltimore, MD), who completed the game with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Raleigh native Forward Kris Monroe ended the game with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Besides Sessoms and Tarke, Coppin State had a contribution from Redshirt Senior Guard/Forward from Philadelphia, PA named Justin Steers, with his ten points.

NCCU welcomes South Carolina State, in a 4 PM matchup at McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium, as it will be the first home contest for the Eagles, as far as MEAC play is concerned. On the other hand, Coppin State welcomes arch-rival Morgan State at their home of PEC Arena in Baltimore.