USIU Rallies to Beat Coppin State

SAN DIEGO — The United States International University men’s basketball team won its fifth straight game at Golden Hall Wednesday night with a 77-73, come-from-behind victory over Coppin State College of Baltimore.

USIU (5-7) trailed at halftime, 40-34, but the Gulls scored the first six points of the second half to tie the score. USIU took the lead for good, 63-61, when Joe Yezbak made an eight-foot jumper with 9:18 left.

Coppin State (1-9) pulled to within three points, 76-73, and had the ball in the game’s final minute. But the Eagles never got a shot off as USIU forced a turnover with 35 seconds remaining.

Yezbak led all scorers with 27 points and Dexter Magee had career highs in both scoring (12) and rebounding (9). Earl Lee had 19 points for Coppin State.

USIU has won five of its last six games.