NC Central Falls to Coppin State in Nail-Biting MEAC Opener

BALTIMORE, Md. — North Carolina Central University (NCCU) men’s basketball team opened their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) campaign with a heart-wrenching 63-61 loss to Coppin State University (CSU) on Saturday evening at the Physical Education Complex.

King Shines, But NCCU Falls Short

Junior guard Po’Boigh King stood out for the Eagles, leading all scorers with 18 points. However, King was the lone NCCU player to reach double figures in a game that came down to the wire.

Coppin State’s victory marked its first against NCCU since the 2022 MEAC Basketball Tournament semifinals.

A Tale of Two Halves

The NCCU Eagles (7-11, 0-1 MEAC) overcame an early deficit to take their first lead at 13-12 after a free throw from senior wing and Baltimore native Timmy Adedire with just over nine minutes left in the first half. The lead shifted back and forth three times before NCCU entered halftime with a 30-23 advantage, holding Coppin State (2-13, 1-0 MEAC) to just 29.2% shooting in the opening frame.

The momentum swung in the second half when Coppin State regained the lead with free throws from Peter Oduro under the 15-minute mark. From there, the two Eagle squads exchanged baskets, tying the game at 38-38 with 13:07 remaining.

A key jumper from Coppin State’s Khali Horton put the home team ahead. Despite keeping the game close, NCCU could not overcome Coppin State’s three-point shooting advantage.

Final Moments

With 26 seconds remaining, NCCU had a chance to tie or win after junior guard Dionte Johnson stole the ball. Head coach LeVelle Moton called a timeout to draw up a final play, but redshirt senior Floyd Rideau Jr.’s jumper missed the mark, and Johnson’s attempted putback came too late as the clock expired.

Key Stats

• NCCU shot slightly better overall from the field (43.4%) compared to Coppin State’s 42.6%.
• The major difference came from beyond the arc: NCCU struggled, going just 1-of-15, while Coppin State capitalized with 9-of-18 shooting.
• NCCU dominated in rebounding (31-29), bench points (29-6), and points in the paint (36-18).

Julius Ellerbe III and Camren Sparrow combined for 30 points to lead Coppin State.

Looking Ahead

NCCU continues their Baltimore road trip on Monday, Jan. 6, as they face Morgan State University at 7:30 p.m. in the Hill Field House. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

For more updates on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.

Photos: NCCU Athletics