Pirates Bounce Back To Defeat Coppin State, 84-75

Sunday, December 11

Greenville, N.C.

2:00 P.M.

East Carolina University

7-4,0-0AAC

Coppin State

4-8,0-0MEAC

Coppin St.

East Carolina

December 11, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Javon Small scored 21 points and recorded a game-high 10 assists as East Carolina used a strong second half on offense to defeat Coppin State 84-75 on Sunday afternoon at Williams Arena in Minges Coliseum.

Freshman Ezra Ausar tied his season-high in points with 18 on 9-of-12 shooting for the Pirates (7-4) and Brandon Johnson tallied his fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Small became the first Pirate to record at least 20 points and 10 assists in a game since Isaac Fleming back in 2019.

Sam Sessoms led the Eagles (4-8) with a game-high 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the floor and Nendah Tarke added 19 points.

"I thought we got off to a good start on both sides of the basketball," head coach Michael Schwartz said. "I thought Coppin State made a nice adjustment. They spaced the floor and really started to try and put pressure on us driving the basketball. We had to make an adjustment at halftime on how we could somehow close up the paint a little bit."

ECU would find its rhythm on offense early to take a seven-point lead with 10:33 remaining after a floater by Small made it 19-12. Coppin State would work its way back into the game with a 14-point swing that gave the Eagles a 42-35 advantage. ECU would head into the half down 42-37, trailing at the half for the eighth time this season.

The Pirates would ramp up the physicality in the second half, going 16-for-21 from the free throw line and holding the Eagles to 33 points to earn the nine-point win.

ECU outscored Coppin State in the paint 50-32 and outrebounded the Eagles 34-25.

Up Next
The Pirates will have a six-day break before their next game on Saturday, Dec. 17 against South Carolina at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The game is scheduled to tip at 2 p.m. and will streamed via ESPN+ and SEC Network+.