Men's Basketball | 12/19/2014 3:49:00 PM

Game Dates: Saturday, December 20, 2014
Opponent: Manhattan Jaspers (2-7, 1-1 MAAC)
Site: Draddy Gymnasium, Riverdale, N.Y.
Game Time: 7 p.m.
Record:  MSU 2-9 (0-2 MEAC)
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman (145-125 - 9th yr)
Websites: www.morganstatebears.com/www.gojaspers.com
 
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BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State (2-9, 0-2 MEAC) returns to the hardwood with its second of a 7-game road trip when they face the Manhattan Jaspers (2-7, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) in non-conference play on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. The contest will be played at Draddy Gymnasium in Riverdale, N.Y. and will mark the third meeting between the teams.
 
IT'S OK TO BE A FOLLOWER
MSU men's basketball fans can follow their favorite team, or any of the other MSU athletics programs on Twitter through the handle @MorganStBears.
 
LAST TIME OUT
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (Dec. 18, 2014) -- Dec. 18, 2014 -- Teddy Okereafor scored 21 points and Rider topped MSU 62-48 on Thursday night. The Broncs used a 13-1 run at the start of the second half to push the lead to 42-28. MSU got it to five after 3-pointers by Bozeman and Cedric Blossom, but Rider responded with a 7-1 spurt and held off the Bears down the stretch. MSU was led by Blossom's 21 points. Bozeman finished with 11 points as the Bears shot 33% from the floor, including 4 of 14 on 3-pointers.

SCOUTING MANHATTAN
• The Jaspers come into Saturday's contest on a 2-7 start to the season. Most recently, the Jaspers are coming off a 65-56 road loss Wednesday night at Pittsburgh. Emmy Andujar scored 17 of his team-high 19 points after halftime and Ashton Pankey recorded 12 points and 10 boards to lead the Jaspers on the night.
• Manhattan welcomed back nine letterwinners and a pair of starters, from a squad that posted a 25-8 overall record, and finished with a 15-5 conference mark and won the MAAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Second Round.
•  Steve Masiello  (Kentucky '14) is in his fourth season as the Jaspers head coach and holds an 62-46 record.
• The Jaspers have three players averaging double-figures. Emmy Andujar leads the squad averaging 13.2 ppg, 7.8 ppg and 2.8 apg. Ashton Pankey averages 11 ppg and 6.1 rpg, and  Shane Richards is added 10.9 ppg for a Jaspers team currently shooting 41 percent from the floor and 27 percent from 3-pt. from the three.
 
WE MEET AGAIN 
MSU will square off against Manhattan for the third meeting in history between the two schools. The teams have split the series 1-1. MSU lost at Manhattan 61-60 in the first meeting on Nov. 19, 2008. The Bears evened the series by recording an 83-74 win at Hill Field House on Dec. 12, 2012...MSU standout Reggie Holmes led the way by pouring in 30 points.
 
MORGAN STATE TABBED THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL
Morgan State was picked to finish third in the 2014-15 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball preseason poll behind defending regular season champion North Carolina Central.
 
BLAKE BOZEMAN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Morgan State senior guard Blake Bozeman was selected to the Preseason All-MEAC Third Team by the conference head coaches and sports information directors.
 
BOZEMAN LOOKS FOR ANOTHER 20-WIN SEASON
For three of the last eight seasons, all as head coach, Todd Bozeman has guided teams to at least 20 victories. Bozeman set the Morgan State record for consecutive 20-win campaigns in 2007-08 with a 22-11 record and extended it with a 23-12 campaign in 2008-09, followed by a Division I school record 27-11 record in 2009-10. The previous record was back-to-back 20-win seasons under coach Nathaniel Frazier when he guided the Bears to a 20-8 record in 1972-73, followed by 28-5 in 1973-74.
 
BOZEMAN IN THE MEAC FACTS
• Morgan State has made six MEAC Tournament Championship appearances in eight seasons under head coach Todd Bozeman.
• The Bears have won a pair of MEAC Tournaments titles (2009 & 2010).
• Bozeman has led the Bears to 17 of the  32 MEAC Tournament wins.
• He was the 2009 and 2010 Outstanding Coach of the MEAC Tournament.
• Morgan State has advanced to the MEAC Semifinals seven times in the last eight seasons under Bozeman.
 
ROAD UNKIND
The Bears finished 5-9 in true road contests and 3-3 on neutral floors in 2013-14 and posted a 5-3 road conference ledger. This season's schedule will send MSU on the road for 14 games, including a trip to Cancun, Mexico. The Bears are currently in search of its first road win of the season 0-7 on the road.

FRESH FACES
Morgan State's roster includes eight (8) newcomers in graduate students Jordan Omogbehin (C) and Zech Smith (C), redshirt sophomore Cliff Cornish (F), and freshmen Jamar Redmond (G), Conrad Chambers (G), Clive 'C.J.' Vaughan Jr. (G), Jeremiah Curtis (F) and Anthony 'A.J.' Vernon (F).
 
BEWARE THE BEAR
Under the direction of Todd Bozeman, Morgan State has collected a couple of memorable wins against big-time opponents. The Bears have recorded historic wins against: Long Island (2009); Manhattan (2009); Arkansas (2009); DePaul (2008); and Maryland (2009).
 
FATHER & SON COMBO
Morgan State is one of nine Division I teams that feature a father-son combo. The following is the list of D1 father-son combos:
Todd & Blake Bozeman – Morgan State
Billy & Billy Donovan – Florida
Ron & R.J. Hunter – Georgia State
Dale & Ethan Layer – Liberty
Craig & Cullen Neal – New Mexico
Keith & Lance Richard – UL Monroe
Bill & Tyler Self – Kansas

WINTER'S BLOSSOM
Junior forward Cedric Blossom has had a solid start to the 2014-15 campaign after starting in 30 of 31 games and averaging 6.9 ppg and 5.3 rpg in 2013-14:
• He has led the team in scoring five times this season.
• He has scored 10+ points in nine of 11 games played.
• He has scored 20 or more points in his last three outings ... 20 pts vs. Liberty, a career-high 22 pts vs. UC Irvine, and  21 pts at Rider. 
• He's currently the Bears second leading scorer averaging 13.0 ppg and leads the Bears in rebounding with 6.5 rpg.

Z EFFICIENCY
Zech Smith, a 7-0 center, has been effective in the starting lineup for Coach Bozeman. The big man is shooting .500 from the field (22-44). Zech also leads the team averaging 1.4 blocks per game (ranks 6th in MEAC) in the first 11 games.

THE GRADUATES
A strong class of 17 current and former Bear student-athletes across all sports earned their undergraduate degrees from the Morgan State University during commencement exercises on Friday. Coach Todd Bozeman had a pair of graduates from his MSU men's basketball program that earned their degrees. Former Bear Thair Heath (2011-14) and current member Blake Bozeman both received their bachelor's degrees.

NEXT UP
The Bears take on the Golden Eagles of Marquette on Saturday, December 28. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT).