ECU Can't Wrestle Control Away From Coppin State

Tuesday, December 3

Greenville, N.C.

7:00 P.M.

East Carolina University

Coppin State

December 03, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Press Conference

From wire and staff reports

GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Koby Thomas scored 19 points to lead five Coppin State players in double figures as the Eagles topped East Carolina 85-75 on Tuesday night.

Ibn Williams scored a season-high 13 points in eight minutes coming off the bench for Coppin State (4-6). Kamar McKnight added 16 points, Andrew Robinson chipped in 14 and Aaron Robinson had 11.

ECU and Coppin State exchanged the lead seven times in the first 13 minutes before the Eagles closed out the half on an 11-3 run and took an eight-point lead, 39-31, into the halftime locker room.

The Pirates trimmed one-point off CSU's lead in the first three minutes of the second half, but never got closer the remainder of the game.

Coppin State was in control the entire second half and built a 16-point lead late in the game before recording its third victory in its last four games.

The Eagles finished the game shooting 50.8 percent (31 of 61) and hit 10 of 29 (.345) 3-point attempts.

Conversely, ECU shot just 37.5 percent overall and 23.3 percent outside the arc.

Jayden Gardner scored 22 points for the Pirates (2-7), whose losing streak stretched to four games. Tyrie Jackson added 12 points and Brandon Suggs.

Tremont Robinson-White, playing just his second game after injury sidelined him for seven games, scored 10 points with four rebounds and four assists
.

The Pirates will return to action following final exams on Saturday, Dec. 14 against Campbell.

Postgame Notes

East Carolina used its eighth different starting lineup of the season as junior Edra Luster made his first career start alongside Tremont Robinson-White, Tyrie Jackson, Bitumba Baruti and Jayden Gardner.
Gardner scored double figures for the 11th consecutive game dating back to last season and posted his fourth 20-point game of the season. His six offensive rebounds were a season-high.
Jackson scored double figures for the third straight game and grabbed exactly seven rebounds for the fourth time in five games played this year.
Robinson-White scored double figures for the second time in two games. He has 24 points in 49 minutes of action this season.
Suggs netted double figures for the seventh time in nine games this season.
Freshman Charles Coleman posted season-highs for points (8) and rebounds (5).

Postgame Quotes

East Carolina Head Coach Joe Dooley

Opening statement

"Obviously very disappointed. I thought Coppin was the aggressor scoring 40 points in the paint and kept us on our heels; very disappointed on how we responded.

On roster turnover

"We've got a lack of familiarity, that's evident. We're disjointed on both ends of the floor. We've gotten guys back, but they haven't practiced enough. We have minute limits on a couple of these guys, so you get out there and you have 30 minutes and try to prioritize on what they are going to do. This month of practice is going to be vital for us moving forward. We've got to get solid at a few things and then build from there."

Sophomore Jayden Gardner

On the frustration of losing

"It's super frustrating. We just got to be able to execute. We got to figure this thing out soon. This probably hits home the worst. We've got to come back and regroup."