Sam Brand scored 12 of his team high 15 points in the 2nd half to help lead the Bears past Delaware State.
Boxscore
BALTIMORE, Md. (Feb. 14) - Morgan State knocked off Delaware State by a score of 75-74 in a barn-burner at Hill Field House before a crowd of 3,362. The Bears improved its home record to 9-1.
Delaware State (11-13, 9-4) entered the contest as the No. 2 team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but were outplayed in the end by a gutsy Bear team that ended up getting the right bounces to go their way, especially in the final seconds.
With 3.9 seconds remaining in the game, and MSU clinging to a one-point lead, Sam Brand collided with a Hornet player as Chris Grant inbounded the ball. DSU’s Jahsha Blount picked up the loose ball and launched a 3-pointer as time expired. The ball rimmed out as the Bears escaped with a narrow 75-74 victory.
“I was just hoping it didn’t go in,” said senior guard Grant. “I thought Sam (Brand) was fouled on the play. When he picked it up and shot the three, I was just hoping and praying that it didn’t go in.” Grant finished the game with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.
The Bears improved to 11-13 overall and moved into 4th place in the MEAC standings. The Bears finished with three players in double-figures led by Sam Brand who poured in 15 points, 12 in the second half.
“This win was huge,” said Brand. “We’re going into the last four games of the conference with a 9-5 record and we are trying to position ourselves as one of the top five teams.”
Brand nailed two free throws for what apparently gave MSU a sure win with 10 seconds remaining, but DSU point guard Aaron Williams was fouled by Joseph McLean on a 3-point attempt. The senior stepped up and nailed all three free throws to pull the Hornets to within one with 4 seconds left.
Both teams had solid shooting nights as MSU finished by shooting 48% from the field and the Hornets shot 51%. MSU won the battle on the glass by outrebounding the Hornets by a 33-26 margin.
MSU’s Ron Timus had another solid game for the Bears by connecting on 5-for-9 from the field for 14 points and 6 rebounds. Timus also shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
DSU was led by Williams who finished with a game-high 24 points and connected on 6-for8 from the field with five rebounds. Troy Roundtree added 14 points, while Aaron Williams and Terrence Hunter finished with 11 and 10 points respectively.
