Aric Brooks hit a pair of free throws with 1.1 seconds remaining at Delaware State.
Boxscore
DOVER, Del. – Morgan State has been on the wrong side of several close losses this season, including a one-point loss in its last meeting against Delaware State.
Tonight was a different story.
Ian Chiles broke a 70-70 tie from the free throw line where he made 1 of 2 with 21 seconds left to go. But on the ensuing inbounds, Hornets point guard Jay Threat raced the length of the court, missed a contested layup, only to have it followed up by a dunk by Tahj Tate as fans and his teammates ran on to the court in jubilation.
However, 1.1 seconds remained on the clock and in the confusion the officials huddled and decided to access a technical against Delaware State for delay of game.
Aric Brooks, Morgan State's best free throw shooter (.787 pct.), toed the line and hit both free throws as fans stood questioning what had just occurred. The Bears left Memorial Hall with a 73-72 victory.
Blake Bozeman scored a career-high 14 points (4-6 3FG) for the Bears (8-19, 5-10 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), who shot a blistering 65 percent (30-46) and went 6-for-12 from 3-point range. Brooks, Chiles and
Justin Black each finished with 10 points.
Bozeman hit his first pair of three-pointers to help lead the Bears to an early 8-0 lead.
Justin Black added a dunk to increase the lead to 14-4 at the 15:47 mark.
The Bears closed the final 4 minutes of the first half with a 14-3 run and went into the locker room with a 41-24 leads, its largest halftime lead of the season.
DSU (14-13, 11-4) entered the second half with more defensive energy and hit four 3-pointers to help sway the momentum. Tate ended up ignited the Hornets with a couple of baskets including a scoop layup to cut the lead to 56-50 with 9:02 left.
The Bears led 65-59 with 4:29 left and DSU went on a 9-2 run to take the lead.
Jay Threat paced the Hornets with a game-high 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, and Tahj Tate posted 18 points (all in the second half), and Marques Oliver added 13.
MSU dominated the Hornets on the boards by a commanding 34-12 margin, and scored 19 points off of second chance opportunities.
