Spartans' slow start leads to first MEAC loss

NORFOLK

This is Norfolk State's finest Division I season. It was not its finest first half.

A dismal opening 20 minutes for Norfolk State sentenced the Spartans to their first MEAC loss of the season, an 87-82 defeat to visiting Coppin State (11-11, 6-3) that kept NSU (16-7, 8-1) from breaking its school-record for Division I wins in a season.

Even so, Norfolk State remained in first place in the MEAC by 1-1/2 games over Bethune-Cookman and Savannah State, and it has eight more chances to set a school record.

"It doesn't take away any of our wins, it doesn't take away our lead," senior center Kyle O'Quinn said. "Almost no one makes it through undefeated. You build a lead in case this happens. This is why you play so hard early."

On this night, Norfolk State showcased none of the reasons for its stellar start in the first half, and then all of them in the second.

A wild comeback and 69 second-half points cut the deficit, but couldn't erase it.

The first 20 minutes were ugly, a tragedy of errors for the Spartans who settled for 3-pointers, shot them poorly (1 of 11) and turned the ball over 12 times.

The result: a 35-13 Coppin State halftime lead.

While the reliance on 3-pointers against Coppin State's zone, and the inability to involve O'Quinn (two first-half shots) was the prime culprit in the loss, NSU missed its share of layups as well.

"They played a weird defense," O'Quinn said, referring to a zone that seemed to shift from 2-3 to 3-2. "I'm still not sure what it was."

Twice, Norfolk State turned the ball over by passing to players standing out of bounds.

More often, the Spartans' cross-court passes sailed too high, glancing off fingertips and out of bounds.

NSU coach Anthony Evans rotated through 12 players in the half in an effort to find some energy and the Spartans were called for three technical fouls during the game.

"It was like we were running in mud kinda," Evans said. "We couldn't make a basket, we turned the ball over. No matter what we did, it didn't work. You see 69 second-half points, obviously it was focus in the first half."

The Eagles raced out to an early edge by holding NSU scoreless for the first 6:14 and without a field goal for the first 11:19.

As its lead grew, Coppin State became more deliberate on offense, often using the entire shot clock before shooting and forcing NSU into desperation mode.

"It's a lesson learned," Evans said. "We can't come out that slow."

The Spartans played full-court pressure defense the entire second half.

It led to a final run fueled by O'Quinn's 27 points and Chris McEachin's 17, but it allowed Coppin State just enough offense openings to hand NSU its first loss. All 44 of O'Quinn and McEachin's points came in the second half.

Norfolk State got off 51 shots in the second half, making more than half, but it allowed Coppin State to make 62.5 percent (15 of 24).

When a 17-6 run got NSU to 74-66 with 2:08 left, Coppin State guard Tony Gallo beat the press and fed Akeem Ellis for a layup on a 2-on-1.

That basket forced NSU to get desperate and, despite a lead that eventually shrunk to five, Coppin State clinched the game from the free throw line.

"The second half, that's what we'll think about," O'Qunn said. "That's what we'll take into the next game."