Bethune-Cookman Falls Victim to Bears, 66-57
Ameer Ali led the Bears with 14 points against the Wildcats.

Bethune-Cookman Falls Victim to Bears, 66-57

2/7/2011 11:19:16 PM

Boxscore

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.

“This win was much needed, because it's helping to mend the bond between the team,” said Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman. “The way the team played today is how I would like to see them play more often. They had unity and they played together.”

Bethune-Cookman (13-11, 7-3), who entered the contest atop the MEAC standings, lost its second game in a row game and fell into a tie for second place with the Bears. Hampton, who the Bears defeated earlier this season, now moves back to the top of the conference with an 8-2 mark (18-5).

The Bears seemed determined to notch a win before leaving Florida, and with Ali leading the way, that determination showed.

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.

“It was a win that we needed to help prove that we are still the defending champions,” said Ali. “It's going to feel a lot better flying back home with the win.”

 Aric Brooks added 13 points and DeWayne Jackson finished with 11. Kevin Thompson pitched in nine points and six rebounds.

Garrius Hollowman (8 pts) scored a basket to pull the Wildcats to within 38-32, but the Bears answered with a 12-2 run over a 5 minute stretch.

Aric Brooks connected on 3-of-4 free throws, following a foul and technical against B-CU point guard CJ Reed that gave the Bears a 48-34 lead with 13:11 remaining.

Reed, the MEAC's leading scorer at 18.5 points per game, led the Wildcats with 20 points but fouled out of the game with 7:08 remaining. He was Bethune's only player to score in double-figures. 

Morgan State shot 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, including a 35-footer by Larry Bastfield with 19 seconds left to give the Bears a 37-27 lead. Reed answered with a 3-pointer of his own as the Wildcats went into the locker room trailing 37-30.

Prior to Reed's 3-pointer, the Wildcats had not scored a basket since the 9:07 mark as a result of tenacious defense by the Bears. Reed had 16 of his team's 30 first half points.

Morgan State trailed by as many as five points and took the lead for good (26-25) following a reverse layup by Ameer Ali and a free throw by Kevin Thompson with just over 6 minutes left.

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