Nov. 21, 2006

Final Stats

BALTIMORE, MD - The Coppin State University Eagles used a 21-6 run to start the second half of play as they defeated the Rams of Winston-Salem State University in non-conference basketball action by the score of 81-56 at the Coppin Center on Tuesday evening.

The Eagles, playing in only their second non-conference home game since December 4, 2002, earned their first win of the season behind Tywain McKee's 20 points as he turned in an 8-for-14 shooting performance.  The match-up, the first between the two schools, drops the Rams all-time record versus the Eagles to 0-1 overall.

The first half of play was a closely-contested affair as the two teams turned in nearly identical statistics as CSU led at the halftime intermission by only five points, ahead 29-24.

Second half action would not be nearly as kind to the Rams as WSSU ran into the proverbial "brick wall" as Coppin State came out of the locker room and mounted a 21-6 run, including an 11-0 stretch to cap the scoring outburst, over the first 5:45 of play as the Eagles increased their lead to 20 points at 50-30.

A Darius Floyd free throw snapped the CSU run but the damage had been done as the Rams never recovered, eventually falling in defeat as WSSU dropped their sixth game of the season.

Leading the way for the Rams was reserve guard Lowen Wray's team-high 13 points on four-for-nine shooting including a two-of-four shooting display from behind the three-point arch.  CSU was led by McKee's 20 points as both he and Robert Pressey (12 points and five rebounds) recorded double-digit scoring performances.

The loss drops the Rams to 1-6 on the year while the Eagles earn their first win of the season and improve to 1-3 with the victory. 

The defeat marks only the third time in his head coaching career that WSSU head coach Bobby Collins has fallen to Coppin State University as his all-time record versus the Eagles now stands at 5-3.  Collins, who spent the last four seasons as the head coach at Hampton University, has come out on the losing end in the last three head-to-head match-ups with CSU head coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell after posting a flawless 5-0 mark to start his career.

The Rams return to action on November 25, 2006 as they face the Georgia Southern University Eagles from the Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Georgia.  Tip-off is slated for 7:30 pm (Eastern Standard Time).

For additional information on WSSU basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com.

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