BALTIMORE, MD – Zach Sellers hit a running layup with 43.3 seconds left and South Carolina State was 4-4 from the charity stripe in the final seconds to hold off host Coppin State for a 79-75 win in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener for both teams.

Seniors Dawani Applewhite and Ian Kinard had 24 and 19 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs and had two free throws each in the last 20.6 seconds. Sellers finished with 12 points and five assists in the win, which lifted Coach Murray Garvin's team to 6-7 overall and 1-0 in the league.

Coppin State, which fell to 4-12 and 0-1 in the MEAC, was paced by Koby Thomas with 22 points and six rebounds. Andrew Robinson added 19 points and Kamar McKnight and Dejuan Clayton added 10 points each in the loss.

The host Eagles, behind a three-point barrage, jumped out to a 37-30 lead after a seesaw first half. SC State began the final stanza with a 13-5 run to grab a 43-42 lead on the fourth of five 3-pointers made by Kinard with 16:05 to play.

Coppin came back to tie the contest at 49-all when Reggie James connected on 1-2 from the line with 11:44 left.

There were nine lead changes and two ties before, the last at 73-73 with 1:20 remaining before Sellers gave the Bulldogs the lead for good with his runner with under a minute left.

"It was a total team win," said an elated Garvin after the win. "All MEAC games usually come down to 1-2 possessions and I was proud of the poise my team showed down the stretch. Coppin got off to a good start, but I told my team if we were patient and stuck to the game plan. Road wins are hard to come

"Applewhite stepped up and Ian Kinard shot the ball well for us," he continued. I'm really proud of the win, and on a personal note, it's my wife's () birthday so it's a great birthday present for her.