BALTIMORE, MD—The South Carolina State Bulldogs prepare to open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) competition on the road against host Coppin State Wednesday (Dec. 4) at the Physical Education Complex. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m., immediately following the women's contest.

The last time South Carolina State defeated Coppin State at home in Baltimore, MD was the 2005-06 season. In their last meeting on the hardwood the Bulldogs posted a season sweep over the Eagles with an 88-83 (2/16/16) victory in Orangeburg and a 90-80 (3/10/16) semifinal victory in the MEAC Conference Tournament in Norfolk, Va. The Bulldogs are 2-1 overall versus Coppin State during the Garvin era.

MEAC HONOR: Senior guard Eric Eaves was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Co-Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Eaves had the top scoring performance in the MEAC last week pouring in 32 points during an 89-85 nail biter at Jacksonville this past Saturday. The 6-3 senior from Columbia S.C. also grabbed six rebounds and recorded a block and steal. Eaves also shot 64.3 percent from the field, 83.3 percent from the three-point line and 75 percent from the free throw line.

A LOOK AT SC STATE:
Murray Garvin is midway through his fourth season at South Carolina State, after guiding the Bulldogs to its best regular-season finish since 2005 with a 19-15 overall record, including a 12-4 MEAC mark last season. The Bulldogs finished the regular-season tied for second place, advanced to the MEAC Championship game and earned a postseason tournament bid to the CIT (Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament), the first such appearance since 2003. All-MEAC and Boxtorow All-American senior guard Eric Eaves leads SC State in scoring with 16.1 ppg, while junior forward Tashombe Riley (11.0 ppg) crashes the boards 4.7 times per game. Edward Stephens (7.2 ppg) controls the tempo on the court dishing out 2.3 assists per game.

SCOUTING COPPIN STATE
Michael Grant is entering his 3^rd season at Coppin State, and is 18-57 at the helm including a 0-2 record versus SC State. The Eagles are scoring 58.6 ppg, allowing 83.1 ppg this season. Tre' Thomas and Josh Treadwell each are averaging a little over 9.7 points per game. Chas Brown is the leading rebounder for Coppin State with 7.0 boards per outing, while Dejuan Clayton hands out 2.4 assist ppg.

NEXT UP
SC State will resume MEAC play in the second of three-game road league swing Saturday (Jan.7) at Hampton in 6 p.m. tipoff at the HU Convocation Center.
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For more information on South Carolina State Athletics visit www.scsuathletics.com or call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060.