MSU Gamenotes
Game 22
Morgan State (11-10, 7-3 MEAC) at South Carolina State (6-18, 2-9 MEAC)
Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 – 7;30 p.m. (ET)
SHM Memorial Center – Orangeburg, S.C.
Television – n/a
Radio – n/a
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com; www.SCSUathletics.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 South Carolina State on Monday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center in Orangeburg, S.C. MSU (11-10) will attempt stay on pace following a 66-57 win at Bethune-Cookman ... South Carolina State will be attempting to bounce back from a 70-62 home loss against Coppin State (Feb. 12). With the loss the Bulldogs dropped to 6-18 overall and 2-9 in the MEAC, and have lost three games in a row and nine of their past 10.
Series History
♦ Saturday's game will be the 68th meeting between Morgan State and South Carolina State in men's basketball
♦ Morgan State has won eight of the last 10 contests against the Bulldogs, including a 68-61 win in the 2010 MEAC Tournament Finals
♦ South Carolina State holds a 39-28 all-time record against MSU in the series
♦ The last time the Bulldogs defeated Morgan State was on February 15, 2010. Jason Flagler scored a game-high 24 points and the Bulldogs shot a blistering 57.1 percent from the field to help drop the Bears 71-68 at Hill Field House in an ESPNU televised game ... The loss snapped Morgan's 10-game winning streak, and halted the Bears' 12-game regular season conference win streak.
The Last Time Out
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ameer Ali scored a career-high 14 points, Morgan State shot 58 percent against one of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's top defensive teams and the Bears beat Bethune-Cookman on Monday 66-57. Ali, who scored a career-high 15 points two days earlier against Florida A&M, poured in 14 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the floor, in addition to connecting on 6-of-9 from the free throw line.
South Carolina State's Last Game
ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Tony Gallo scored 15 points and hit a 3-pointer that sparked a game- winning rally as Coppin State defeated South Carolina State 70-62 on Saturday. The Eagles trailed 60-58 at the 3:15 mark when consecutive 3-pointers by Gallo and Michael Harper started a 10-0 run. The Eagles went 6 of 7 from the foul line the rest of the way.
Looking Ahead at the Schedule
Following their matchup with the Bulldogs, the Bears will have five days to prepare for an ESPNU Bracketbusters matchup with VMI on Saturday, February 19 at Hill Field House ... The game will tip-off at p.m. ... The game will mark the first ever meeting between the Bears and the Keydets, of the Big South Conference, in men's basketball.
Home vs. Road
The Bears are scoring about the same no matter where they play this season, averaging 71 points at home and 64 points on the road per game. The big difference is the scoring of their opponents, which are averaging 67.8 points at Hill Field House and 62.3 points per game on their respective home courts.
Closing In On Not One, But Two G's
Morgan State forward Kevin Thompson is on his way to a remarkable accomplishment as he is well on his way to recording 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career. The junior has recorded 1,041 points and 866 rebounds in his career.
Numbers Game
♦ In a win against Bethune-Cookman, the Bears starting lineup was Larry Bastfield, Gene Johnson, Adam Braswell, DeWayne Jackson and Ameer Ali.
♦ Junior point guard Larry Bastfield has scored in double-figures during the Bears' last 3 of 4 contests, including a season-high 15 points and shot 4-of-7 from beyond the arc against N.C. A&T on Jan. 31. ... He also dished out a game-high six assists.
♦ The Bears are currently 9-1 when leading with 3 minutes left and 1-9 when trailing with 3 minutes left. The only loss they had when leading down the stretch was at Delaware State on Jan. 20th in Dover.
♦ The Bears had four players score in double- figures during their win against N.C. A&T on Jan. 31 ... DeWayne Jackson (18), Larry Bastfield (15), Aric Brooks (10) and Ameer Ali (10).
♦ Kevin Thompson has led the Bears in rebounding 63 times in his career and has accounted for 866 rebounds ... he has also recorded nine double- doubles (points & rebounds) in 21 games played so far this season.
