A lot of the faces have changed since last season, with freshmen making up half the 10 players who started the game.
But one thing stayed the same last night at Hill Field House. Coppin State still has Morgan State's number.
In their respective Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference openers, the Eagles dominated almost from the beginning and rolled to a 73-59 victory, the first of the season for either team.
Jimmy Boykin led the charge offensively with a game-high 23 points for Coppin (1-6). The slender forward made all of his eight attempts from the field - including six three-pointers - before missing his final try in the last minute.
"We came into this game focused. It had a little meaning. Our minds were right," Boykin said.
Even coach Fang Mitchell, usually a tough critic of his team, agreed.
"I think we played well, established our tempo. Our execution was excellent. When you do what you're supposed to do, there is a win waiting around the corner," Mitchell said.
The smallish Bears (0-4) kept pace for about 5 1/2 minutes before Boykin made his second three to give Coppin a 13-11 advantage. They stayed within striking distance until a 12-3 Eagles run raised the margin to 52-38 midway through the second half.
But Morgan's veteran guards, Randy Dukes and Cedrick Barrow, couldn't supply enough firepower to keep the game closer. Dukes had 19 points and Barrow added 14, but there was precious little help.
"They beat us in every facet of the game from the minute the ball went up," said Morgan coach Butch Beard. "We're just not a very good club right now."
Both coaches cited Eagles point guard Raheem Scott, a freshman from Philadelphia, as the controlling influence.
"Raheem Scott did a tremendous job on both ends," Mitchell said of his primary ball handler, who was perfect on 10 free throws, scored 17 points to back Boykin and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.
Mitchell said there was "no question" that the Eagles' rigorous early-season schedule against the likes of Marquette, Ohio State and North Carolina State has toughened them for the MEAC.
COPPIN ST. - Muhammad 0-1 0-0 0, Thompson 4-7 0-0 10, Bradley 3-6 0-0 6, Jones 3-4 0-0 6, Tucker 4-10 2-2 10, Boykin 8-9 1-1 23, Scott 3-5 10-10 17, Colter 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 25-43 14-15 73.
MORGAN ST. - Barrow 5-8 0-1 14, Timus 1-5 1-2 3, Sims 3-5 1-2 7, Snipes 0-0 0-0 0, Grandy 0-0 0-0 0, Williams 1-3 0-0 3, Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Brand 0-0 0-0 0, Dukes 5-13 4-4 19, Pellerin 3-5 0-1 6, Patrick 1-4 0-0 2, Fischer 0-0 0-0 0, Andrews 2-5 1-3 5. Totals 21-48 7-13 59.
Halftime-Coppin St., 32-23. 3-point goals-Coppin St. 9-11 (Muhammad 0-1, Thompson 2-2, Boykin 6-7, Scott 1-1), Morgan St. 10-22 (Barrow 4-6, Timus 0-2, Williams 1-3, Dukes 5-10, Patrick 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Coppin St. 23 (Scott 8), Morgan St. 27 (Timus 4, Sims 4, Williams 4). Assists-Coppin St. 5 (Thompson 4), Morgan St. 6 (Barrow 1, Timus 1, Snipes 1, Williams 1, Davis 1, Dukes 1). Total fouls-Coppin St. 13, Morgan St. 15. A-N/A.