For the second time in three games this season, Max Joseph posted a career high in scoring.
The junior guard had 15 points Monday night as Valparaiso topped Coppin State 78-58 at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Joseph had 13 points in Friday’s season opener against Southern Utah. Getting his second straight start for the Crusaders (3-0) with Tevonn Walker sidelined, Joseph shot 6-for-7 in a team-high 35 minutes against the Eagles (0-2).
“I try to be as aggressive as I can be,” Joseph said. “I try to do the little things I can control, hitting the glass and getting offensive boards. The rest of the team supports me. That gives me confidence.”
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Joseph averaged 7.4 minutes last season and 10.9 as a freshman. It has been a matter of taking advantage of his opportunity, according to coach Matt Lottich.
“It’s not a surprise,” Lottich said. “I saw him in practice. He was kind of the odd man out on a very deep team that had a lot of seniors. To his credit, he was patient, he continued to put in the work.
“When you put in that kind of work and have the attitude Max has had, you’re going to see results. We’re very pleased with Max, and there’s even better to come.”
Shane Hammink also registered a career high with 23 points, shooting 8-for-11. The senior swingman eclipsed his previous best of 19 against Belmont last season, and also finished with seven rebounds.
“Attack the basket hard, I got a couple dunks and just keep running plays,” Hammink said.
Joseph and Hammink notched career highs in an “off” game for Alec Peters. The senior forward had 20 points and eight rebounds, but only shot 7-for-20.
“We depend a lot on Alec to score, there’s no doubt about it,” Lottich said. “He missed some shots that he traditionally makes. We know they’re going to fall. But we preach a lot about offensive rebounds too. You miss a shot, get on the glass and get yours.”
Freshman guard Micah Bradford added 12 points.
Valparaiso continued to struggle from the perimeter, shooting 5-for-24 from 3-point range. But Lottich wasn’t concerned.
“Good shooting’s contagious,” he said. “We are going to shoot the ball well. We have very good shooters on our team and I have full confidence in our guys. That will happen.”
The Crusaders were consistently solid defensively, responding to the challenge issued after their Saturday win against Trinity Christian. Coppin State shot 29.8 percent (17-for-57), including 3-for-20 from 3-point range.
“We’ve always been in the right spots,” Lottich said. “We talked a lot about making them uncomfortable.
“It’s one thing to be in the right spots, it’s another to have a hand in a guy’s face, to just be a nuisance. We did that.”
After beginning the season with three wins in four days, Valparaiso plays Thursday at No. 4 Oregon. The Crusaders expect Walker to be back for that game.
Hammink, meanwhile, expects to be recovered and ready after the rapid succession of games.
“Your body feels it a little bit, but that’s why we practice three hours a day,” he said.
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff