Game Dates: Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Opponent: No. 10 Saint Mary's
Site: Moraga, Calif.
Game Time: 7 p.m. (PT)
Record:  MSU 2-13 (0-2 MEAC)
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman (145-129 - 9th yr)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com/www.SMCGaels.com
 
Game Notes  |  Watch Live  |  Live Stats  |  Live Audio  |  Twitter Updates 
 
BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State (2-13, 0-2 MEAC) plays its last of a four-game road trip when they face the Gaels of Saint Mary's (11-3, 4-0 West Coast) in non-conference play on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. (PT). The contest will be played at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, California. A live video stream will be provided at SMCGaels.com.
 
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. 2, 2015 --  Stephan Hicks scored 22 points and Stephen Maxwell added 20 as Cal State Northridge turned a late run into a 78-62 victory over Morgan State on Friday night, breaking out of a four-game skid.Morgan State, ranked 343rd out of 345 teams in field-goal percentage (34.6 percent) made 45-percent of its shots in the first half, trailing 45-40, but went cold after the break, hitting just 7 of its last 30. Donte Pretlow scored a career-high 16 for Morgan State.

SCOUTING THE GAELS
• The Gaels enter Tuesday's contest on a 11-3 start to the season and will attempt to improve upon a five-game winning streak when they meet Morgan State. Most recently, the Gaels beat Loyola Marymount 72-63 (Jan. 3). Aaron Bright paced the Gaels with 24 points, while Kerry Carter had 17 points and Brad Waldow added 13 points and 11 boards in the win. SMC outrebounded its 14th straight opponent, earning a 37-28 lead on the boards.
• SMC welcomed back five letterwinners and two starters, from a squad that posted a 23-12 overall record, and finished in third place with a 11-7 West Coast conference mark.
• Randy Bennett  (UC San Diego '86) is in his 14th season as the Gaels head coach and holds an 294-137 record.
• The Gaels are led by Brad Waldow who is currently averaging a team-high 20.4 ppg and 10.4 rpg. Kerry Carter and Aaron Bright are also adding 13.4 ppg and 12.4 ppg, respectively. Emmett Naar leads the team in assists (5.2 apg).  SMC is currently shooting 46 percent from the floor and 37 percent from 3-pt. territory.

THE SERIES 
MSU will square off against the Gaels for the second meeting between the two schools. Kevin Thompson posted 18 points to lead three Bears in double figures in an 76-60 loss to the Gaels in the Shamrock Office Solutions Classic championship on Dec. 28, 2008.

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 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 14 games, including a trip to Cancun, Mexico.
• The Bears are currently in search of its first road win of the season, MSU is 0-11 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 13 games, including a career-high 22 points vs. UC Irvine.
• His 21 point effort at Marquette marked the third time in the last four games he has recorded 20 or more points.
• He's currently the Bears leading scorer averaging 13.9 ppg and second leading rebounder with 6.3 rpg.
 
NEXT UP: The Bears return to MEAC play at Delaware State on Saturday, January 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.