MSU Gamenotes
Game 26
No. 17 Morgan State (18-7, 10-0 MEAC) vs. Winston-Salem State (9-13)
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 – 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Hill Field House – Baltimore, Md.
The Opening Tip
No. 17 Morgan State, the 2009 MEAC champion, will attempt to extend its 10-game winning streak when they host non-conference opponent Winston-Salem State (9-13). Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Hill Field House. The game will mark the 27th meeting between the teams.
The Last Time Out
Bethune-Cookman led by a point with under a minute left to play when Troy Smith was fouled on a loose ball rebound. The senior stepped to the line with 37 seconds left and knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Bears a 48-47 lead. The free throws turned out to be the final points of the ballgame.
Winston-Salem State's Last Game
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Vincent Simpson knocked down a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, lifting Hampton to a 55-53 win over Winston-Salem State on Monday night. Simpson, who finished with 12 points, scored seven of those in a row in the game's final 1:35 for the Pirates. Brian Fisher's layup with 1:53 left put the Rams up 50-48, but Simpson took over from there. He hit two free throws, dropped in a layup and then finished the Rams off with his final 3-pointer.
Series History
Saturday's Saturday night's game will be the 27th meeting between Morgan State and Winston- Salem State in men's basketball. The Rams hold a 16-10 advantage in the series. MSU has dropped the Rams the last four times ever since the series was rekindled in 2007. Prior to 2007, the Rams had won six straight against the Bears dating back to the 1964-65 season. WSSU's last win against the Bears was during a 71-61 win in 1968.
Holming In
♦ Morgan State senior guard Reggie Holmes will enter Saturday's contest averaging 22.2 points per game, including four 30 point outings thru 25 games. He currently leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in scoring and ranks in the NCAA Top 10 (ranked No. 7).
Thompson's Hospitality
♦ Morgan State forward Kevin Thompson was named to the Freshmen Mid-Major All-America team by Collegeinsider.com at the end of the last season. Thompson has led Morgan State in rebounding 21 times in 2009-10 and 37 times in his career. Thompson is among the nation's leaders in rebounds ... he ranks No. 4 (12.4 rpg) and has posted 25 rebounds in a game which is an NCAA single-game high for this season.
Numbers Game
♦ Morgan State has won 10 straight, including 13 of its last 16.
♦ Morgan State Morgan State improved from No. 20 to No. 17, earning its highest ranking ever in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The squad collected 262 points Monday, which fell ahead of George Mason at No. 18 (218 points) and behind 16th-ranked College of Charleston (276 points). The No.1 position is currently held by Butler (761 points).
♦ The Bears are 7-0 thus far at home; Todd Bozeman has led the Bears to a 31-5 (.861) current home record inside the confines of Hill Field House.
♦ Morgan State has won 12 straight regular season conference games since last season.
♦ Senior guard Troy Smith scored a career-best 18 points in an overtime win at Norfolk State (Jan. 31), followed by 16 points at N.C. A&T on Feb. 1.
♦The Bears shot a season-high 54.5% (30-55 FG) from the field and outscored Winston-Salem State in the paint 42-to-32.
♦ MSU ranks No. 1 in the MEAC in rebounding margin by holding a 1027-908 total rebound advantage over its opponents.
♦ Freshman #DeWayne Jackson# is MSU's 3rd leading scorer by averaging 10.4 ppg thru 25 games ... he's been selected four times as the MEAC Rookie of the Week and ranks No. 1 in the league in 3-point shooting percentage (.488).
♦ The final 3 minutes has been critical in the Bears' success this season… Morgan State is 16-2 this season when leading with 3 minutes to go and 2-5 when trailing with 3 minutes left.
♦ Junior point guard Danny Smith currently ranks among the MEAC leaders in assists ranked 6th (3.6 apg) and ranks T- 1st in assist/turnover ratio (2.1) … The junior finished with 10 assists against Towson on Dec.22.
♦ Morgan State's Reggie Holmes has been named the MEAC Player of the Week five times so far this season and Kevin Thompson has also been named seven times as Defensive Player of the Week and once as the MEAC Player of the Week.
