MSU Gamenotes
Game 18
Morgan State (9-8, 5-1 MEAC) vs. Norfolk State (5-13, 3-3 MEAC)
Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011 – 1:05 p.m.
Hill Field House – Baltimore, Md.
Television – ESPNU [Anthony Calhoun-play-by-play and Stan Lewter - analyst]
Radio – Sirius XM / WEAA 88.9 FM
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com; www.NSUSpartans.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 Norfolk State on Saturday, an. 29 at 1:05 p.m. at Hill Field House in Baltimore, Md. The game will be televised by ESPNU. MSU 9-8 will enter the contest fresh off a 74-6- conference win at MD-Eastern Shore, and have won 4 of their last five games. Norfolk State will put their 3-game winning streak on the line when they take on the reigning two-time MEAC champs. The Spartans are coming off of an 84-61 win against South Carolina State in an ESPNU televised game at Echols Hall. With the win the Spartans improved to 5-13 overall and 3-3 in the MEAC.
The Last Time Out
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Kevin Thompson had a field day inside where he scored 10 of his team-high 20 points in the first half and hauled down eight rebounds, helping Morgan State dismantle the Hawks of MD-Eastern Shore 74-60 Monday night at W.P. Hytche Center. Morgan State (9-8, 5-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) outrebounded the Hawks by a 35-29 margin and hounded them into committing 19 turnovers.
Norfolk State's Last Game
NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State junior center Kyle O'Quinn put on a show for the ESPNU cameras on Monday night at Echols Hall, scoring 19 of his game-high 26 points in a scintillating first half that propelled the Spartans to their third straight win, 84-61, before a season-high crowd of 3,002. The Spartans shot 49 percent from the floor (30-of-61) and 43 percent (9-of-21) from long distance.
The Series vs. The Spartans
♦ Saturday's game will be the 38th meeting between Morgan State and Norfolk State Shore in men's basketball.
♦ Morgan State has won four of the last five contests against the Spartans, including two overtime games during the 2009-10 season.
♦ The Spartans hold a 26-11 all-time record against MSU since the series began during the 1959-60 season.
♦ 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 13 ppg and 8.7 notching eight double-double performances in 17 games, including a 25 points and 10 rebounds outing against LaSalle (Nov. 20) and will enter the Saturday's contest looking to build upon a sensational 20 point, eight rebound effort in a win at MD-Eastern Shore (Jan. 24).
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, was limited to seven points on 2-of-7 shooting.
♦ Against UMES, MSU scored 40 points inside the paint and scored 24 points off 19 turnovers.
♦ 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 six games.
Next Up
♦ Following their matchup with Norfolk State, the Bears will have two days to prepare for North Carolina A&T on Monday, January 31 at Hill Field House, the game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m.
♦ Last year, Kevin Thompson recorded a double-double with a team-high 20 points and 16 rebounds and Reggie Holmes and Troy Smith each chipped in with 17 points as MSU rolled past the Aggies, 84-57, in the MEAC quarterfinals.
