MSU Gamenotes
Game 14
Morgan State (6-7, 2-0 MEAC) vs. Hampton (12-3, 2-0 MEAC)
Monday, Jan. 10, 2011 – 7:30 p.m.
Hill Field House – Baltimore, Md.
Radio – Sirius-153 / XM-91 / WEAA-88.9 FM [Lamont Germany, Austin Ward & Mike Walker]
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com; www.HamptonPirates.com
Follow Morgan State men's basketball on twitter @morganstbears for in-game updates and the latest news on the squad.
The Opening Tip
Morgan State, the 2010 MEAC champions, will host Hampton on Monday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Hill Field House in Baltimore, Md. MSU 6-7 will attempt to build upon a 75-62 conference win against Howard on Saturday. Hampton beat Coppin State 67-59 Saturday night at Coppin's Physical Education Complex. The Pirates improved to 12-3 overall and 2-0 in the MEAC.
The Last Time Out
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Kevin Thompson recorded his seventh double-double of the season by halftime, and finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds to help lead Morgan State to a 75-62 home victory against Beltway rival Howard on Saturday. Aric Brooks matched his season-high by scoring 17 points, including 10-for-10 shooting from the free throw line with four assists.
Hampton's Last Game
BALTIMORE, Md. – The Hampton University men's basketball team picked up its second straight win on Saturday, beating Coppin State 67-59 at the Physical Education Complex. Junior guard Kwame Morgan II led two Pirates in double figures with 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting, making four of his seven 3-pointers. Junior guard Darrion Pellum added 15 points.
The Series vs. The Pirates
♦ Monday night's game will be the 29th meeting between MSU and Hampton in men's basketball.
♦ The Pirates hold a 19-9 advantage in the series. MSU has won the last two meetings, including a 74-67 win in the 2010 MEAC Tournament Semifinals.
♦ The last time Hampton defeated the Bears was on February 23, 2009 when the Pirates held the Bears without a field goal for the game's final 3:51, sealing a 49-47 win at the HU Convocation Center.
♦ The last time Morgan State was defeated by the Pirates at Hill Field House was on January 27, 2009 when Brandon Tunnell hit a 3-pointer and free throws down the stretch that helped Hampton secure a 62-57 win in front of 3,976 fans ... it marked the first conference loss at Hill Field House in two years.
Thompson's Hospitality
♦ MSU junior Kevin Thompson is set to lead the Bears this season...the 6-foot-9 forward was the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was the league's most dominant post player during the 2009-10 season ... As a sophomore, Thompson averaged 12.7 points per game, 11.9 rebounds (4th best in the nation) and completed the season with 22 double-doubles (pts & rebs). He has started the 2010-11 season by averaging 12.5 ppg and 9.2 notching seven double-double performances in 13 games, including a 25 points and 10 rebounds outing against LaSalle (Nov. 20).
Numbers Game
♦ DeWayne Jackson, the 2010 MEAC Rookie of the Year, has posted 87 points in the Bears' last three games (21.7 ppg), including his second-best scoring performance of the season when he led the Bears with 29 points at Baylor last Tuesday night.
♦ Morgan State completed the 2009-10 season as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champs, it marked the Bears second consecutive MEAC Title and they also captured their third consecutive regular season title.
♦ Morgan State was picked to finish as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champs again this year … the Bears received 20 first place votes and totaled 476 points to garner the league's top position for the second year in a row.
♦ Morgan State has posted a 1-5 record when two Bears score in double-figures in a game ... The only time the Bears posted a win with two player scoring in double-digits was against Robert Morris (Dec. 30).
♦ The Bears had five players score in double-figures during their win against UMBC on Dec. 18 ... DeWayne Jackson (15), Kevin Thompson (14), Aric Brooks (14), Justin Black (10), and Tola Lawal (10).
♦ Morgan State's junior captain Ameer Ali replaced Kevin Thompson in the starting lineup when the Bears defeated Robert Morris at Hill Field House on December 30, 2010 ... it marked Ali's first start of the 2010-11 season … Ali has started in the last three games.
♦ Morgan's post rotation of Kevin Thompson, Rodney Stokes, Ameer Ali and Ian Chiles is averaging 23.4 points and 18.7 rebounds per game as a unit. The quartet is also shooting 48 percent (118- of-247) from the field on the season.
♦ Following their matchup with Hampton, the Bears will have five days to prepare to host South Carolina State in an ESPN2 televised matchup on Saturday, January 15 at Hill Field House ... the No. 3 seeded Bulldogs were defeated 68-61 in last year's MEAC Finals matchup in Winston-Salem, N.C. (March 3, 2010) ... Kevin Thompson scored 18 and had 10 boards to help the Bears claim its second consecutive conference title.
