Boxscore
DOVER, Del. – Jay Threat hit two free throws and Casey Walker drained a 3-pointer in the final moments to help Delaware State snap the Bears' 3-game winning streak with a 70-65 victory Saturday night before a packed crowd at Memorial Hall.
The Bears (8-8, 4-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) hadn't lost to Delaware State since a 56-53 overtime setback on March 9, 2007 at the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament, during
Todd Bozeman's first year at the helm for Morgan State. From there, they went on to win three MEAC regular season titles, two MEAC tournament titles and two NCAA tournament appearances.
The loss also marked the first conference road loss suffered by the Bears since losing to Hampton on Feb. 23, 2009.
Trailing 32-23 at the break, Morgan State's offense got into gear in the second half. With
Kevin Thompson on the floor, the Bears completely turned the tables. Thompson scored two baskets to help ignite a 23-5 run, capped by a jumper by freshman
Justin Black that gave the Bears a 48-41 lead with just under 10 minutes left to play.
Black led the Bears with 14 points (6-9 FG) and junior
Ameer Ali collected his third double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 12 boards.
The Hornets (8-9, 4-1 MEAC) began chipping into the lead behind the play of Desi Washington and Marques Oliver who led an 11-3 spurt. Threatt hit a pair of free throws to put the Hornets up 56-53 with 1:26 remaining.
On the Bears next possession, Thompson got the ball deep in the post, but missed the layup, and the Hornets grabbed the rebound and called a timeout. Out of the timeout, Threatt found Walker open in the corner for a 3-point dagger to put the Hornets up 59-53, closing the door on any hopes of another Bear comeback.
Washington led all scorers with 18 points and Oliver scored 10 points with 11 rebounds. Threatt posted five assists with six points and Walker chipped in seven points.
Morgan State held a slight advantage on the boards (26-22), and both teams shot 46.3 percent (19-41 apiece) from the field.
Things were not looking too good for Morgan State from the outset.
Delaware State imposed their “slow-tempo” offense and forced the Bears into nine miscues to help build a 32-23 advantage by the break.
Kevin Thompson, the MEAC's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, was strapped with early foul trouble and finished the first half without a point or a rebound in the 6 minutes he was in the game.
Thompson completed the game with six points and a season-low two rebounds, while
DeWayne Jackson, the Bears' leading scorer (16.6 ppg), was limited to seven points on 2-of-7 shooting.
NOTE: MSU's
Aric Brooks was ejected from the ballgame due to a flagrant foul on Delaware State's Terron Stowe at the 5:39 mark of the 2nd half ; Stowe was assessed a foul on the play.
