Navy Never Trails In Win Over Coppin State

By: Ethan Hennessy

Coppin State did not score until nearly seven minutes into the game when Taj Thweatt hit a pair of free throws at the 13:10 mark. The Eagles overcame the slow start by cutting an 11-point Navy lead down to just two with seven minutes in the first half. Late in the first half Navy senior guard Austin Benigni recorded his 1,500 career point. He is one of only nine active players at the division one level to have scored 1,500 points and recorded 350 assists. Despite working their way back into the game, Coppin State once again let Navy build up a double-digit lead after going nearly five and a half game minutes without scoring. With 2:04 to go until halftime, Navy led 33-24 and was doing a good job defensively on the Eagles. Navy allowed only four second-chance points. At halftime, Navy sported a 36-24 lead.

Coppin State’s reserves were doing heavy lifting in this game. They scored all the team’s points in the first half. An Eagle starter did not record a point until 15 minutes left in the game with a Tyler Koenig dunk. Aiden Kehoe recorded his 20^th point of the game after collecting an offensive rebound for the midshipmen and swishing a baseline offensive rebound while falling backwards to the ground. Navy controlled the rest of the game and gradually built their lead. Navy secured a 88-55 win. Coppin State remains winless all time in games played in Alumni Hall. Aiden Kehoe led the way for the midshipmen with 22 points and 12 rebounds. The Midshipmen never trailed and improved to 7-5 on the season. Coppin State fell to 2-13. Navy will wrap up non-conference play on Sunday against Rosemont College. Coppin will travel to Georgetown next to face the Hoyas.