UMBC defeats Coppin St 59-93
UMBC Dominates Coppin St in Statement Win
In a game that was supposed to be a battle of wills between two Mid-American Conference powers, UMBC proved once again why it's a force to be reckoned with on the court. The visiting Retrievers came into the Physical Education Complex and left with a 93-59 victory over Coppin St, a 34-point blowout that was as dominating as it was convincing.
The turning point in the game came at halftime, when UMBC took a slim 40-34 lead. From there, the Retrievers never looked back, stretching their advantage to 37 points by the end of the third quarter. The largest margin of the night came with just over two minutes remaining, when Coppin St trailed by a staggering 37 points.
For the Retrievers, it was another showcase performance from DJ Armstrong Jr., who led the team in scoring with 31 points on 8-14 three-point shooting. Ace Valentine was right behind him, chipping in 19 points and 7 rebounds while also dishing out 8 assists.
Meanwhile, Coppin St struggled to find its footing against the UMBC defense, shooting just 21-57 from the field (37%) and committing 14 turnovers. The Eagles' Khali Horton led the team with 9 points on 2-5 three-point shooting, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Retrievers' relentless pressure.
The advanced statistics told a similar story. UMBC's true shooting percentage was an impressive 63.6%, while Coppin St's eFG% was just 43.0%. The Eagles' free throw rate was also subpar at 26.3%, whereas the Retrievers' was a respectable 36.5%.
This win was more than just another victory for UMBC - it was a statement from the team that it's here to stay in the Mid-American Conference. With its dominant performance on both ends of the floor, the Retrievers sent a clear message to their opponents: they're not to be underestimated.
As for Coppin St, the loss is a tough pill to swallow, especially coming off a game where they struggled to contain UMBC's offense. The Eagles will need to regroup and refocus if they want to make a push in the conference standings.
Key Stats:
* UMBC: 33/63 FG (52.0%), 8-14 3PT, 19/34 2PT, 22 assists
* Coppin St: 21/57 FG (37.0%), 7/22 3PT, 14/35 2PT, 11 assists