MSU Gamenotes
Game 12
Morgan State (5-6, 1-0 MEAC) vs. Baylor (9-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2011 – 7 p.m. (CT)
Ferrell Center – Waco, Texas
Radio – KRZI/1660 ESPN, KLHE 106.9 FM in Central Texas, Sirius 122/XM 143
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com; www.BaylorBears.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 face No. 23 Baylor on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. (CT) at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. MSU 5-6 will to build on a 67-66 non-conference win against Robert Morris on Dec. 30 at Hill Field House. Baylor defeated Texas Southern 68-69 Sunday night in Waco (Texas) improving to 9-3 overall. Tuesday night's game will mark the second meeting between the teams, Baylor holds a 1-0 advantage.
The Last Time Out
BALTIMORE, Md. – Aric Brooks hit two free throws with 13.4 seconds left that turned out to be the difference in Morgan State's 67-66 victory over Robert Morris at Hill Field House. Brooks and DeWayne Jackson were the only Bears to score in double figures in the game. Jackson led everyone with 25 points, while Brooks followed with 13. Morgan State (5-6) took control early using a 15-0 run in the first half. Down 7-4, Jackson scored 11 of the 15 points, including a three-point play with 13:22 left to give the Bears a 19-7 advantage.
Baylor's Last Game
WACO, Texas – LaceDarius Dunn scored all but two of his 17 points in the second half, and A.J. Walton and Quincy Acy made key defensive plays down the stretch as Baylor held off Texas Southern 68-60 Sunday. Acy had 16 points and eight rebounds, as well as two big blocks in the closing moments that helped Baylor (9-3) survive its first game since two losses in Hawaii's Diamond Head Classic the week of Christmas that dropped the Bears out of the AP Top 25 for the first time this season.
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 notching six double-double performances in 11 games, including a 25 points and 10 rebounds outing against LaSalle (Nov. 20) and had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the loss at No. 5 Syracuse.
Numbers Game
♦ Thru 11 games this season, DeWayne Jackson leads the Bears in scoring (16.3 ppg) followed by Kevin Thompson (12.7 ppg).
♦ 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.
♦ DeWayne Jackson, the 2010 MEAC Rookie of the Year, had a career-high 31 point explosion against Loyola Marymount in the Bears season-opener, but was held to 6 points (0-5 3FG) at Providence and 7 points at LaSalle. He led the Bears with 25 points against Robert Morris.
♦ 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 is holding opponents to 44 percent shooting from the floor this season. In each of the Bears' five wins, they have held opponents to shooting 39 percent or below.
♦ 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.
♦ Following their matchup with Baylor, the Bears will have four days to prepare for their first MEAC home contest of the New Year when they tip-off against Howard on Saturday, January 8 in Baltimore ... Howard was defeated 90-58 in last year's matchup in Washington, D.C. (Jan. 9, 2010) ... DeWayne Jackson scored 19 points and Ameer Ali added 12 points with five boards during the win at The Burr Gymnasium.
