Home » Latest News » Damani Applewhite powers South Carolina State past Coppin State in MEAC opener

Damani Applewhite powers South Carolina State past Coppin State in MEAC opener

South Carolina State

Courtesy of Coppin State Athletics

BALTIMORE — Coppin State picked up several big wins in non-conference play, but couldn’t handle South Carolina State in its MEAC opener.

The Basics
Final Score: Coppin State 75, South Carolina State 79
Records: Coppin State (4-12, 0-1 MEAC), South Carolina State (6-7, 1-0 MEAC)
Location: Baltimore, Md. (PEC Arena)

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Inside the Numbers

  • The reigning MEAC Player of the Week, Koby Thomas led four Coppin State players in double figures, matching a career-high with 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting along with five dunks.  Thomas also pulled down six rebounds and was credited with a career-high six steals.
  • Andrew Robinson scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting while making 5-of-13 from distance.  He also grabbed six rebounds.
  • Kamar McKnight and Dejuan Clayton added ten points apiece and dished out six and five assists, respectively.  Clayton one-upped McKnight in steals with three.
  • Reggie James also had his best game of the season with nine points, making all three of his field goals with a pair of threes.
  • Coppin outshot South Carolina State, 50.9% to 47.5% but the Bulldogs got to the line more often (14-of-17 to 8-of-11) and outrebounded CSU, 36-26. 
  • Damani Applewhite recorded 24 points and 11 rebounds while Ian Kinard added 19 points for the Bulldogs.

How it Happened

  • After an alley-oop gave South Carolina State the lead to open the game, Coppin State scored nine-straight points with a dunk by Koby Thomas starting the run which ended in a three by Kamar McKnight.
  • After a pair of buckets by the visitors, Thomas had two more dunks to extend the Eagles lead to 13-6.
  • A pair of threes from Andrew Robinson and Ibn Williams upped the CSU advantage to nine and Coppin built its largest lead at 34-22 on back-to-back threes by Robinson.
  • South Carolina State answered with a three, but Reggie James responded with a triple of his own with 1:09 remaining to make it a 37-25 score.
  • The Bulldogs closed out the half on a 5-0 run, including a three by Ian Kinard in the closing seconds to make it a 37-30 ballgame at the half.
  • The visitors kept up their momentum out of the break, going on a 13-5 run in the first 3:51 to take its first lead since the opening points of the game at 43-42.
  • Two more dunks by Thomas at the 14:39 and 14:14 marks gave CSU a 46-43 advantage and the game stayed within a single possession the rest of the way.
  • Dejuan Clayton hit a layup with 1:36 to play, giving Coppin a 73-71 lead but the Bulldogs’ Damani Applewhite tied it up on the ensuing possession.
  • Coppin turned it over with a shot clock violation at the other end and South Carolina State scored six-straight points to seal the victory.

Up Next: Coppin hosts MEAC rival Norfolk State at 7:30 pm on Monday, January 6 at the PEC.

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