Kevin Thompson collected his 13th double-double of the season and led the Bears with 21 points with 14 rebounds.
Boxscore
NORFOLK, Va. – The last time Morgan State played an overtime game, things didn't turn out so good.
The Bears lost to Appalachian State in overtime earlier this season, but refused to come out on the losing end today.
The Bears trailed 90-89 with 2:35 left in the extra period, before scoring eight straight. Dewayne Jackson's dunk gave Morgan State a 97-90 lead with 24 seconds left.
Reggie Holmes scored 19 points, including traditional 3-point play in overtime that gave Morgan State the lead for good, and the Bears outlasted Norfolk State 100-94 on Sunday afternoon at Echols Hall.
Kevin Thompson collected his 13th double-double of the season and led the Bears with 21 points with 14 rebounds. Troy Smith and Jackson each added 18 points, and Sean Thomas chipped in 16 for the Bears.
Morgan State, which trailed by as many as 11 with 16:08 to go, improved to 15-7 overall and 7-0 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Bears not only recorded its highest point total in 15 years, but they also recorded their 12th consecutive conference since last season.
“I will take a win any way I can get it,” said Morgan State head coach Todd Bozeman. “It was definitely a tough game, but we got the W.”
Norfolk State lost its fourth in a row, despite having five players score in double-figures, led by Michael Deloach who finished with a career-high 34 points.
Bears' guard Sean Thomas contributed with several key baskets in the second half. He scored 15 of his 16 points after halftime. His 3-pointer from the left wing gave the Bears their first lead of the second half, 72-71, with 4:31 left in regulation.
“Game ball definitely goes to Sean Thomas,” said Bozeman. “He had a remarkable game and he stepped up and held the team together.”
“Our team is about who steps up a lot of the time. In addition to having one of the leading scorers [Holmes] and leading rebounders [Thompson] in the nation, we still get a lot of help from other players such as Ameer Ali, Troy [Smith], DeWayne [Jackson], and tonight it just happened to be Sean.”
The Spartans (3-16, 2-5) led 78-74 with 2:40 left in regulation, but the Bears went on a 9-4 run. Morgan State took a 85-82 lead on Thompson's layup with 10 seconds to go. Rob Hampton's 3-pointer with 5 seconds left sent it into overtime.
Morgan State appeared ready to win in regulation when Joe Davis drove the length of the floor before missing a layup in the closing seconds.
The Bears held the Norfolk State to three baskets in overtime and the Spartans shot 3-for-9 from the free throw line in the extra period.
Morgan State held a 52-to-32 advantage on the boards and scored 33 points on second chance opportunities.
The Bears will turn around and play North Carolina A&T Aggies Monday night (Feb. 1) at the Corbett Sports Complex. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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