COPPIN STATE (2-5) vs. LONG BEACH STATE (3-1)
Tournament: Oldsmobile Spartan Classic
Site: Breslin Center, East Lansing, Mich.
Time: 6
Outlook: Coppin State finally pulled off its first major upset with a 69-66 victory over Louisiana State last Thursday. Sidney Goodman scored a game-high 26 points and was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Week. Goodman will have to contain Long Beach State point guard Raguj Salahuddin, who is averaging 6.25 assists. Long Beach State came off a 2 1/2 -week layoff to beat Montana, 79-69, on Dec. 21 and has been idle for the past week. Mike Atkinson's 15 points per game lead a 49ers frontcourt that averages 6 feet 8. The smaller but quicker Eagles front line is led by Stephen Stewart (14.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Goodman and backcourt mate Keith Carmichael supply a combined 26.6 points per game.
MORGAN STATE (0-8) at CLEMSON (7-0)
Site: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, S.C.
Time: 7:30
Radio: WEAA (88.9 FM)
Outlook: Morgan State has lost by an average of 30.8 points per game. Seven of the Bears' losses have been to top Division I programs. Clemson is off to its second-best start in seven seasons. The Tigers have routed lower Division I schools who have a combined 20-30 record. Clemson has been idle since Dec. 20 when it topped Miami (Fla.). by 20 points. The Tigers will be without senior center Devin Gray (St. Frances), who has been ruled academically ineligible. Jerard Rucker (Gibbons) has scored in double figures in four of his past five games, including ++ 11 points in a 95-74 loss to Ohio State on Tuesday. Morgan State has lost 49 of its past 51 nonconference games.
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