Gonzaga 86, Coppin State 51
Eleventh-ranked Gonzaga earned its third consecutive win, routing Coppin State 86-51 Sunday night at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash.
Gonzaga improved to 7-1 overall, 6-1 at home. The Eagles, who were playing the Bulldogs for the first time, fell to 2-4.
The Bulldogs had the game won by halftime, leading 39-14. Gonzaga shot almost 50 percent from the floor in the half, hitting 14 of 30 attempts, and crushing Coppin State on the boards 25-11.
Coppin State didn't help itself, making seven of 29 first-half shots (24 percent).
Gonzaga wound up outshooting Coppin State 50 percent to 32.1 percent, and outrebounding the Eagles 45-32.
The Bulldogs led from start to finish. The closest Coppin State came was 3-2, on junior forward Arnold Fripp's jumper with 18:43 remaining in the half. Gonzaga then went on a 17-4 tear and was never threatened.
Fripp and sophomore guard Sterling Smith led Coppin State with 10 points each.
With 5:04 to play, Gonzaga freshman forward Luke Meikle made a layup to put the Bulldogs up 72-32.
Bulldogs junior guard Gary Bell led all scorers with 15 points, and guard Gerald Coleman added 14. Gonzaga junior guard Kevin Pangos, who entered the game averaging 19.2 points a game, finished with nine points in limited action.
