NC Central defeats Coppin St 77-88

NC Central Edges Coppin State in Thrilling Comeback Victory

The Physical Education Complex was electric on Monday night as NC Central (88) stunned Coppin State (77) in a thrilling conference matchup. The Eagles, playing as the visiting team, erased a 14-point halftime deficit to claim the win.

Coming into the game, Coppin State led by as much as 17 points in the first half, but NC Central's high-powered offense refused to quit. Jae Slack led the way for the Eagles with 18 points, including three treys, and five rebounds. Dionte Johnson chipped in with seven assists, while Jae Slack added a spark off the bench to help his team claw back into the game.

In contrast, Coppin State's Jamari Piercy poured in 19 points, but struggled from beyond the arc at just 3-4 attempts. Chris Morgan led the Panthers on the glass with seven rebounds, as well as grabbing 10 points and two assists. Khali Horton added four assists to his tally of 15 points.

Despite the deficit, Coppin State's strong shooting performance in the first half kept them ahead by nine at intermission. However, NC Central came out hot in the second half, hitting five three-pointers to cut the gap to just one point with less than five minutes remaining.

Trailing by eight with two minutes left, Jae Slack took matters into his own hands, scoring six points in a row to put NC Central up for good. Dionte Johnson sealed the win with a crucial block on the defensive end, securing the 11-point victory.

The final box score reads:

Coppin State (HOME) Game Stats:

* Field Goals: 28/54 (52.0%)

* Points in Paint: 20

* Fast Break Points: 2

NC Central (AWAY) Game Stats:

* Field Goals: 24/48 (50.0%)

* Three-Pointers: 12/20 (60.0%)

* True Shooting%: 68.9%

The win is a significant statement for NC Central, who now sits atop the conference standings. Coppin State, meanwhile, will look to bounce back from this tough defeat.

Final Score: NC Central (88) at Coppin State (77)

Venue: Physical Education Complex

Date: 2026-01-10