BALTIMORE – Senior forward Ronald Jackson notched his eighth double-double of the season with a game-high 21 points and 14 rebounds, but the North Carolina A&T Aggies fell to Coppin State, 79-75, inside the Physical Education Complex Saturday evening in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men's basketball action.
 
"Our guys came out not running as hard or playing as hard as we have in the past," said N.C. A&T acting head coach Will Jones. "We didn't capitalize on some plays late and Coppin did a heck of a job."
 
N.C. A&T (7-12, 3-1 MEAC) had its four-game winning streak snapped. Senior Devin Haygood scored 17 points to go along with five rebounds. Fred Cleveland, Jr. added 10 points to round out double-figure scoring for the Aggies. Junior Kameron Langley compiled a season-high 11 assists, one short of his career-high.
 
The game was tied at 63 with just over six minutes to play. A Ronald Jackson dunk gave the Aggies a 72-68 lead with 3:35 to play. But the Eagles tied the game at 73 on a Dejuan Clayton with 1:53 remaining in the contest.
 
The Aggies and the Eagles struggled to score from there. It wasn't until there was 40 seconds remaining in the game that the 73-73 tie was broken. Koby Thomas hit two free throws for the Eagles to break the tie. Langley missed an opportunity to tie the game as he missed a layup with 31 seconds to play.
 
Coppin (5-15, 1-4 MEAC) took advantage by going 4-for-4 from the free throw line down the stretch to clinch the win.
 
The Aggies won the tip and scored the first points of the game on a pair of Haygood free throws. Trailing 20-18, N.C. A&T would go on a 7-0 run and hold the Eagles scoreless for three minutes to claim a five-point lead, 25-20.
 
The Aggies would extend that lead to 35-24, but Coppin State would go on a late spurt to close the gap to 37-34 heading into the locker room.
 
Brendan Medley-Bacon led the way for Coppin State with 19 points and 14 rebounds. The Aggies remain in Baltimore as they face Morgan State 7:30 p.m., Monday at Hill Field House.