BUZZER BEATER DOESN'T GO IN LOSS TO COPPIN STATE

Aggies close to sweeping Eagles for first time in nine seasons

Women's Story     Men's Box Score
BALTIMORE, Md., February 18, 2006 – Sophomore forward Trahern Chaplin missed a 3-pointer from the right corner at the buzzer to give Coppin State a 65-64 overtime win over the North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team Saturday at the Coppin Center. A win would have given the Aggies their first two-game win streak on the road since the 2001-2002 season.

 Jason Wills led the way for N.C. A&T with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Greg Roberts added 16 points and nine boards.

 “I love this team,’’ said head coach Jerry Eaves. “My kids come to fight every night, and we were close to sweeping one of the best teams in our conference. We know we can play with any team in this conference.”

 Five minutes into the second half, the Aggies (4-19, 4-9) were on the verge of not being competitive with Eagles. They trailed 41-27 before clamping down defensively on the Eagles, forcing them into five turnovers and 1-for-9 shooting over a 6 ½-minute stretch.

 The result of the better Aggies defense was an 18-2 run that gave them a 45-43 lead with 8:09 remaining the game. The two teams traded the lead seven times over the next four minutes. The Eagles were finally able to establish a 55-52 lead, but a Leslie Powell runner gave the Aggies a 56-55 advantage with 3:37 remaining.

 Roberts then scored on a turnaround jumper to push the lead to three. Coppin State guard Darryl Roberts tied the game at 58 with a 3-pointer from the corner with 2:13 remaining.

 The rest of the night would conjure memories of what could have been as the Aggies missed on an opportunity to sweep the Eagles for the first time in nine seasons. Walter Booth missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw with 57 seconds remaining and as time expired in regulation, Roberts missed what appeared to be sure tip-in off of a Wills miss.

 “We had our chances to win, no question,’’ said Eaves. “Some things didn’t bounce our way tonight, and that’s unfortunate because my young men played their hearts out against a very good team in a tough environment.”

 N.C. A&T led 62-49 with 1:27 remaining in overtime. But the first of two tough blocking calls that could have been called charges helped the Eagles cut it to one as Darryl Roberts went to the line thanks to a Powell foul.