NORFOLK, Va.— Three times Bethune-Cookman worked its way back to a tie in Tuesday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament first-round game with Coppin State, and three times the Eagles responded as the Wildcats dropped a 75-68 decision at the Scope.
Clemmye Owens scored 22 points, and Maurice Taylor doubled-doubled (18 points, 14 rebounds ) for the second straight game, but it wasn't enough to keep the Wildcats' season ending with a 7-25 record.
Michael Murray scored 24 points as the Eagles (11-19) scored the final seven points and advanced to Wednesday's quarterfinals against Hampton.
Bethune-Cookman managed a 68-68 tie on an Owens lay-up with 2:17 to go, but didn't score again.
“We needed to string together a couple stops, get some offensive rebounds, but we didn't get those when we needed,” said B-CU Head Coach Gravelle Craig, whose team was outrebounded 38-28 and let Coppin State shoot 49 percent from the field. “Rebounding hurt us, not getting the 50-50 balls … that was the difference.”
Taylor's 14 rebounds was B-CU MEAC tournament game record, eclipsing the old mark of 12 set by Michael Williams against Morgan State in 2003. Freshman point guard Tony Kynard's nine assists was also a B-CU tournament record, eclipsing the eight of Johnny McClenton against Howard in 2008.
It was little consolation.
“Fourteen rebounds? It felt like I only had three,” Taylor said. “If I had gotten one more rebound, we may have won this game. “
Owens' three-pointer with 18:15 remaining gave the Wildcats their first tie at 42-42, but the Eagles scored the next five points and maintained the lead until a Taylor lay-up with 10:37 remaining tied it at 51-51.
Coppin State took a 63-54 advantage on a Murray three-pointer with 5:34 remaining, but Mikel Trapp scored eight of his 14 points down the stretch to bring the Wildcats back into contention.
Murray scored 16 first half points – he hit his first five shots – as the Eagles scored the game's first six points and never trailed. B-CU was able to cut a 38-28 lead to 40-37 with a 9-2 run in the final 2:26 of the opening half.
Owens scored 14 in the first half and finished with his fourth 20-point game of the season.
“This season was definitely a learning experience,” Owens said. “I learned a lot and know what to do to get better so we have a chance to win the league.”
