Jamar Smith added 17 points to the Bears' efforts against Miami on Saturday night.
Boxscore
BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State led throughout most of the game before being outscored 9-0 in the final four minutes as the Bears fell 55-51 in BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
#Marquise Kately had a solid game for the Bears and recorded his first double-double of the season by finishing with a game-high 19 points and 12 rebounds. Jamar Smith# added 17 points and seven rebounds as the Bears record fell to 3-2.
The Hurricanes (5-0) jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game, but Morgan State did not have much trouble getting back into the ballgame behind the play of Kately and Smith. The duo used their quickness to slice through the Hurricanes defense as the Bears went into the locker room with a 28-26 halftime lead.
The Bears extended its lead to 48-41 when Jerrell Green found Smith for an open three-pointer with 7:47 remaining.
Morgan State (3-2) eventually let the lead slip through their grasp during the final possessions of the game.
Miami point guard Eddie Rios, who started in place of leading scorer Jack McClinton, changed the momentum of the game with a steal that led to a dunk by Dwayne Collins at the 2:56 mark. Followed seconds later when Brian Asbury stole the ball from Kately and put UM in front 52-51 with another dunk.
Down the stretch Kately and Smith each missed the front ends of one-and-one opportunities before Asbury hit a free throw and Lance Hurdle made two with 5.1 seconds left to seal the win for the Canes.
Morgan State outrebounded the Hurricanes by a commanding 47-34 margin, but shot a dismal 2-for-10 from the stripe and 21.4 percent (3-14 3FG) from three-point territory.
Senior #Boubacar Coly# had a sub-par night for the Bears as he finished with four points, six rebounds and three turnovers, while UM center Anthony King led the Canes with 11 points and 8 rebounds.
UM was held to 39.6 percent from the field and struggled at the line by connecting on just 8-of-21 (38.1%) free throws.
Morgan State will be back in action on Thursday (Nov. 29) at UMBC. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the RAC Center.
