Kevin Thompson posted his 21st double-double of the season to help lead the Bears to a win against No. 9 N.C. A&T.
Boxscore
Bear Shots
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Kevin Thompson recorded yet another double-double with a team-high 20 points and 16 rebounds and Reggie Holmes and Troy Smith each chipped in with 17 points as Morgan State rolled past North Carolina A&T, 84-57 in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament at the Joel Coliseum.
The Bears (25-9), the Number 1 seed, advance to the semifinal round against the winner of the Norfolk State-Hampton University game on Friday at 6 p.m.
Morgan State came out smoking from the tipoff and imposed its will on the Aggies (11-22), the Number 9 seed, who had advanced to this round after defeating Howard University in the opening round on Tuesday.
The Bears put the game away early by shooting 52 percent (18 of 34) en route to a 46-22 halftime lead. Smith and Thompson tallied 12 and 10 respectively. Thompson, who now has 21 double-doubles this season, accomplished the feat by intermission with 10 caroms.
“This is the most focused we have been all season,” said Morgan State's Todd Bozeman, the MEAC Coach of the Year for the second straight year. “We have been trying to get this kind of complete effort all season and tonight, we finally got it. I am pleased overall, but it is just one game.”
The Bears won both games during the season against NC A&T, but in the most recent match, the Aggies rallied from an 16-point deficit to take a 10-point lead in the second half before Morgan State rallied to win. There would be no repeat of that this time. With Holmes, the MEAC Player of the Year leading the way, Morgan State embarked on a 24-12 run during the first 10 minutes and the rout was on.
“You have to take your hats off to Morgan State,” said North Carolina A&T head coach Jerry Eaves. “They were physical with us and took us out of our comfort zone. We were not able to match their physicality.”
Holmes scored 10 of his points in the second half while Thompson also contributed 10 and led the team in assists with six. Thompson was the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. Joe Davis and DeWayne Jackson, the MEAC Rookie of the Year, each added 9.
North Carolina A&T got another fine performance from Nic Simpson, who led his team 17 points off the bench and Tavarus Alston, a second team all-MEAC selection, contributed 11 in a losing cause.
