Rodney Stokes scored a career-high 18 points with 8 rebounds and 3 blocks against N.C. A&T.
Boxscore
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Morgan State entered tonight's contest attempting to rebound from a disappointing loss at Norfolk State just two days ago, but ended up with another tough conference road loss.
Thomas Coleman, who was named earlier today as the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, scored 21 points and added nine rebounds and three blocks to lead North Carolina A&T to a 68-60 win during Monday night's ESPNU nationally televised game at Corbett Sports Center.
It marked the first time the Aggies had defeated Morgan State since a 91-79 home overtime win on February 19, 2007.
The loss dropped the Bears record to 15-12 overall and they remain in 2nd place in the MEAC with a 10-5 conference record.
N.C. A&T (15-15, 9-6 MEAC) took the lead at the 15:19 mark on a putback basket by Coleman, and never trailed from that point.
Morgan State made a late charge in the ballgame and erased a 9-point lead. When Aric Brooks hit a 3-pointer from the corner to pull the Bears within 3, trailing 60-57 with 1:37 remaining. On the Bears next possession, Justin Black had an open look at a 3-pointer to tie the ballgame, but the shot went rimmed out.
When Larry Bastfield fouled Marc Hill with 53.1 second left, it marked the beginning of a parade at the free throw line by the Aggies. Hill (11 pts) went 6-of-6 from the stripe and Coleman finished the game with a pair to lift A&T past the surging Bears 68-60.
Nic Simpson finished with 12 points, while Jeremy Underwood has 10.
The Aggies shot 42 percent from the field (21-50), including 5-of-12 from 3-point territory (41 percent), while limiting Morgan State to 21-of-65 shooting (.323) and 14 percent (3-21) from beyond the arc.
Rodney Stokes scored a career-high 18 points (8-11 FG) with eight rebounds and three blocked shots for the Bears, who had won five in a row before falling at Norfolk State on Saturday, and now N.C. A&T.
Kevin Thompson, who was limited due to early foul trouble, managed to record his 12th double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds before leaving late in the contest with a strained hamstring.
The Bears also got 13 points from Aric Brooks, and DeWayne Jackson chipped in 11 points with a career-high six steals.
Morgan State provided plenty of help in the loss. The Bears shot 15-of-23 from the free throw line and the Aggies converted 15 of the Bears' turnovers into 21 points.
N.C. A&T improved their bid to be the No. 4 seed in the upcoming MEAC Tournament.
The Bears will have three days to prepare for their regular season finale against cross-town rival Coppin State on Thursday, March 3.. During their last matchup on Dec. 5,, with the game tied at 61, it was MSU's Aric Brooks who sealed the Eagles' fate by nailing a three point shot from deep with 1:43 left in regulation. Morgan State ended up winning 70-64.
