NORFOLK, Va. – North Carolina Central University overcame a cold start to score 43 points in the second half on the way to a 60-48 win over Coppin State in the Opening Round of the 2018 MEAC Basketball Tournament at Scope Arena on Tuesday, March 6.
 
NCCU (16-15) and CSU (5-27) were a combined 11-54 from the floor in the first half, and NCCU found itself down 18-17 at the intermission.  That score is the second-lowest first half in MEAC Tournament history after Hampton led Delaware State 21-16 on March 10, 2009.
 
The second half began on a similar trend but Reggie Gardner, Jr. (Bowie, Md.) suddenly caught fire and knocked down back-to-back treys to give NCCU a 29-24 lead and from there the maroon and gray would hold the lead for the rest of the contest.  NCCU eventually went on an 8-0 lead to pull ahead by double-digits and went on to close out the contest from there.
 
Gardner was the man of the hour for NCCU with a game-high 20 points with four made three-pointers, and Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line for 12 points and five assists.  Raasean Davis (Chicago, Ill.) had a game-high nine rebounds with five points, and Dominique Reid (Landover, Md.) chipped in nine points with six caroms
 
Karonn Davis (Philadelphia, Pa.) had a team-best 13 points with five assists for CSU, and Lamar Morgan (Willingboro, N.J.) followed with 10 points with five boards.  Chad Andrews-Fulton (Philadelphia, Pa.) also had a complete game with six points and seven rebounds.
 
NCCU advances to meet third-seeded Savannah State on Thursday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m.  The game will be carried live on the NCCU Sports Network as well as on ESPN3.