Game Dates: Monday, February 2, 2015
Opponent: Coppin State Eagles
Site: Physical Education Complex, Baltimore, Md.
Game Time: 7 p.m.
Record:  MSU 4-17 (2-5 MEAC)
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman (147-134 - 9th yr)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com/www.coppinstatesports.com
 
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BALTIMORE, Md. – The Morgan State men's basketball team squares off with cross-town rival Coppin State (3-18, 2-6). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at CSU's Physical Education Complex on Monday, February 2. The Bears fell to 2-5 in the conference following a 64-48 loss at Howard. The Eagles will attempt to bounce back from a 92-82 loss at Maryland-Eastern Shore. Monday night's game will be televised live on ESPNU and available on the WatchESPN App.
 
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
Jan. 31, 2015 -- James Carlton was 14 of 17 from the field and finished with a career-high 32 points to help Howard beat Morgan State 64-48 on Saturday. James Daniel and James Miller added 11 points apiece for Howard. The Bison made 57.1 percent of their shots (24 of 42), but were just 3 of 16 from beyond the arc. Conrad Chambers led Morgan State (4-17, 2-5) with 11 points and Cedric Blossom added 10. The Bears were held to 18-of-52 shooting (34.6 percent) and hit just 7 of 15 free throws.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
• Coppin State welcomed back eight veterans, including three starters, from a squad that posted an 12-20 overall record, and finished 7th in the MEAC with a 7-9 record.
• Michael Grant (Malone) enters his first season as Coppin State's head men's basketball coach and he has guided the Eagles to a 3-18 record, and is 255-216 for his career.
• Sterling Smith leads the the Eagles averaging 11.7 ppg andis shooting 44 percent from the field. Taariq Cephas (11.6 ppg) and Arnold Fripp (11.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) are also averaging double-figures. Cephas is adding 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

FOR THE RECORD
The Morgan State Bears will square off against Coppin State for the 80th meeting between the two schools. Coppin State holds a 52-27 advantage in the series since the 1975-76 season. The Bears won all three meetings against the Eagles last season, including a 79-64 victory in the semifinal round of the MEAC Tournament. First team All-MEAC selection Justin Black scored 23 of his game-high 30 points in the first 20 minutes, while Ian Chiles, a 7-2 first team All-MEAC selection, finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots. The Bears have won the last six meetings vs. the Eagles, including 12 of the last 14.

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 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 school's 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 20 games, including a trip to Cancun, Mexico.
• The Bears captured its first road win of the season with a 73-69 win at Delaware State (Jan. 10), MSU is 1-13 on the road.
 
COMFORTABLE AT HILL FIELD HOUSE
Todd Bozeman has led the Bears to a 66-26 (.717) overall home record at Hill Field House. The Bears are in search of its first home win when they welcome the Anteaters to Hill Field House.
 
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 (Montrose Christian HS) 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 six times this season.
• He has scored 10+ points in 14 games, including a career-high 22 points vs. UC Irvine.
• His 21 point effort at Marquette marked the fourth time he has recorded 20 or more points.
• He's currently the Bears leading scorer averaging 14 ppg and second leading rebounder with 6.6 rpg.

BENCH BOOST NEEDED
The Bears bench has outscored seven of the last 21 opposing second units, and most recently outscored Howard's reserves 20-7 on Jan. 31.
• The Bears second unit has outscored their counterparts seven times this season.
• One of the Bears' four wins have come when their bench has outscored (or equals) the opposition's bench.
• The Bears bench unit scored a season-high 33 points against Maryland-Eastern Shore Jan. 12.

IRON MAN
Over his career as a Bear, Blake Bozeman has played in 110 of 110 possible games (starting 88 of those contests), which are both team-highs.
 
NEXT UP: Morgan State will begin a stretch of four straight homes games when it welcomes the Savannah State Tigers to Hill Field House on Saturday, February 7. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
2015 MEAC Basketball Tournament Tickets are on SALE NOW!
The 2015 MEAC Tournament is March 9-14 at the Norfolk Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia. Ticket books are on sale for $100 at the MSU Box Office located at the Morgan State University Student Center.
To purchase tickets, call the MEAC office at 757-951-2055 or contact your institution's ticketing office.  Tickets can also be purchased by visiting the MSU Box Office at the Student Center. Ticketmaster.com or calling them at 1-800-745-3000.  You may also contact the Scope Arena box office at 757-664-6464.