Boxscore
Bear Shots
BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State head coach Todd Bozeman managed tonight's matchup with Bethune-Cookman University like a complex game of chess, searching for just the right combination of moves to make that would put his team in a position to win.
The Bears post players were in foul trouble throughout most of the contest and it wasn't until just under 10 minutes to go in the game that the Bears were finally able to build a slight lead.
Reggie Holmes scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Morgan State over the Wildcats 55-44 on Monday night at Hill Field House.
"It was a great team win,” Bozeman said, “but we still have room to improve, and we will work diligently to do that."
The Bears (16-10, 10-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) outscored Bethune-Cookman 38-25 in the second half, after the game was knotted up at 19-all at halftime.
The Bears got off to a sluggish start in the first half and went nearly 12 minutes without scoring a single field goal. The Wildcats capitalized during the stretch and Jerry Jones' layup with 6:48 remaining gave the 'Cats a 16-7 advantage.
But Morgan State was able to dig out of the early hole by limiting the Wildcats' second chance opportunities while Holmes and Jermaine Bolden combined for 3-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc. The Bears finished the first half in style with a 3-pointer by Holmes as time expired, capping a 12-3 run and knotting the game at 19 apiece at the break.
Morgan State kept it up in the second half, limiting Bethune-Cookman's chances and shooting 52.9 percent to extend the Bears winning streak to six straight.
Marquis Kately played aggressive and scored all 13 of his points in the second half and Bolden finished with 11 points and four assists for Morgan State.
The Wildcats (12-14, 6-6) were led by C.J. Reed with 14 points and John Holmes added 13.
Morgan State shot 52 percent from the field (18-of-34) while the Wildcats hit just 1 percent from behind the 3-point arc (1-for-10) and were held to 37.8 percent shooting.
The Wildcats lost their third in a row and fifth of their last six games.
Morgan State returns to action Wednesday (Feb. 18) night when they face Beltway rival Howard in Washington D.C. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Burr Gymnasium.
Bear Note
*Holmes scored the opening points of the game when he nailed a 3-pointer to give him the school's all-time career record and single season record for made 3-pointers.
*Morgan State will face cross-town rival Towson on Saturday (Feb. 21) at 4 p.m. in the Towson Center as one of 51 games that comprise the 7th Annual ESPNU BracketBusters. The Bears are the first MEAC team to participate in the two-day men's basketball event that pits 102 potential NCAA Tournament hopefuls against each other three weeks prior to Selection Sunday.
