Bulldogs Get Ready For MEAC Showdown with Coppin State

ORANGEBURG, SC (SCSU SID) — The  South Carolina State men’s basketball team  return home after a three-game league road swing Saturday (Feb.18) to host Coppin State in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Tipoff is4 p.m.

The Bulldogs seek to avenge an early season 75-59 (1/4/17) loss to the Eagles in Baltimore.  Senior Greg Mortimer and James Richardson each finished with 14 points. Eric Eaves added 13 and Tashombe Riley finished with 10.

LAST TIMEOUT: South Carolina State is coming off a tough, 70-81, MEAC road defeat to Norfolk State. Junior guard Ed Stephens finished with a team-high 20 points in the loss. Meanwhile Coppin State is looking for their third-straight win after posting back-to-back wins over Bethune-Cookman (76-72) and Delaware State (83-75). Coppin State is led by Chas Brown with 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds, while DeJuan Clayton is second with 11.1 ppg , 2.1 rpg. Tre’ Thomas and Terry Harris each averages over 9.3 ppg.

BULLDOG NOTE:   Eric Eaves and Ed Stephens became the first Bulldog duo in school history to reach the 1000-point milestone in the same season. Stephens reached the milestone against Hampton (Feb. 6, 2017) and currently has 1059 career points, while Eaves with 1,018 career points broke the mark against rival N.C. A&T (Feb.13, 2017) in only two seasons. The last player to reach the milestone was four-year starting point guard Khalif Toombs back in 2012-13.

Next up South Carolina State (5-19 overall, 2-11 MEAC) plays its final home game of the season Saturday (Feb.25) when they host Florida A&M in a league doubleheader at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.  The Bulldogs will be honoring three seniors on “Senior Day”. Tipoff is 2 p.m. for the women, with the men following in a 4 p.m. start afterwards.

Purchase your tickets now for the 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament  March 6-11 at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, VA. For more information you can visit www.meacsports.com