MSU Gamenotes
Game 17
Morgan State (8-8, 4-1 MEAC) at MD-Eastern Shore (4-14, 1-4 MEAC)
Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 – 7:30 p.m.
W.P. Hytche Center – Princess Anne, Md.
Live Audio Stream – www.umeshawks.com
Television – N/A
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com; www.umeshawks.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 MD-Eastern Shore on Monday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the W.P. Hytche Center in Princess Anne, Md. MSU 8-8 will attempt to bounce back from a 60-55 conference loss at Delaware State on Saturday. UMES was defeated by Coppin State 77-68 Saturday, despite 23 points and 10 rebounds by redshirt junior Hillary Haley. The loss dropped the Hawks to 4-14 overall and 1-4 in the MEAC.
The Last Time Out
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. Freshman guard Justin 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.
MD-Eastern Shore's Last Game
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Redshirt junior Hillary Haley recorded his third career double-double as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team couldn't escape Coppin State, 77-68, Saturday evening at the W.P. Hytche Athletic Center. Haley scored a team-high 23 points and grabbed ten rebounds in the loss. Juniors Tyler Hines and Diyaaldin Kelley also each tallied ten rebounds while scoring nine and four points, respectively.
The Series vs. The Hawks
♦ Monday's game will be the 78th meeting between Morgan State and MD-Eastern Shore in men's basketball.
♦ The Bears hold a 47-30 advantage in the series ... Morgan State has won six of the last seven contests against the Hawks.
♦ The last time the Hornets defeated Morgan State was during the 2005-06 season when they dropped the Bears 76-67.
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 12.6 ppg and 8.8 notching eight double-double performances in 16 games, including a 25 points and 10 rebounds outing against LaSalle (Nov. 20) and will enter the Saturday's contest looking to rebound from a six point, two rebound effort in a disappointing loss at Delaware State.
Numbers Game
♦ In the loss at Delaware State, Kevin 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.
♦ 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 1-6 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 four players score in double-figures during their win against Hampton on Jan. 10 ... DeWayne Jackson (21), Kevin Thompson (19), Aric Brooks and (18), Ameer Ali (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 five games.
♦ Following their matchup with UMES, the Bears will have five days to prepare for Norfolk State on Saturday, January 29 at Hill Field House in Baltimore, Md. ... The tip-off is scheduled to tip-off at 1:05 p.m. and will be televised by ESPNU ... Troy Smith hit a layup with 4 seconds remaining pushed Morgan State to an 88-87 win over Norfolk State in double overtime on last season at Hill Field House. Smith finished with 19 points for the Bears (22-9, 13-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), while Reggie Holmes led the way with 25 points. Kevin Thompson collected his 19th double-double of the season by finishing with 20 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
