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GAME 10: RIDER BRONCS  (2-9, 0-2 MAAC)
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 • 7:00 p.m. • Hill Field House • Baltimore, Md.
Live Video Stream: www.morganstatebears
Radio: WEAA, 88.9 FM (weaa.org)
Series Record: Rider leads 1-0
Head Coaches: MSU - Todd Bozeman (152-147, 10th yr) • RU – Kevin Baggett (56-53, 4th)
Website: MSU - www.morganstatebears.com; www.gobroncs.com
 
BEARS CONTINUE HOMESTAND AGAINST RIDER WEDNESDAY NIGHT
The Morgan State Bears continue a three-game homestand Wednesday, December 23 when they host the Rider Broncs. It will mark the second meeting between the teams. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m at Hill Field House. The Bears will attempt to snap a 4-game losing streak.
 
PREVIEWING THE BRONCS
• Rider returns three starters and nine letterwinners from its 2014-15 squad that went 21-12, and went 15-5 and placed second in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. The Broncs played in the MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals and played in the College Basketball Invitational.
• Kevin Baggett (Saint Joseph's) enters his 4th season as the Broncs' head men's basketball coach. He currently holds a 53 record. He took a squad that was picked seventh in the MAAC and guided the team to a 21-win season and a second place finish, earning MAAC Coach of the Year honors as Rider was selected to play in the CBI tournament.  Baggett was a finalist for the Ben Jobe National Coaching Award for the second time in three years and he was named the UPS All-District 1 Coach of the Year.
• Rider was picked T-3rd in the 2015-16 MAAC Preseason Poll after being one of the league's top scoring defenses a season ago.
• Junior guard Jimmie Taylor (6-3, ) is currently leading the Broncs by averaging 11.0 points per game on 42 percent (42-100) shooting from the field. The preseason All-MAAC Third Team selection has also connected on 17-of-47 (.362) from 3-point territory. Xavier Lundy (10.7 ppg) and Teddy Okereafor (10.6 ppg) are also averaging double-figures.
• Rider is shooting 42 percent from the floor as a team and has connected on 68-of-213 (.319) 3-pointers.
• The Broncs enter Wednesday's contest coming off a 73-65 loss Saturday at #14 Providence. Trailing 65-52, Rider (2-9) went on a 12-4 run, five points by Jimmie Taylor to cut the lead to 69-64 with 1:59 remaining, but that was as close as the Broncs could get. Taylor finished with 22 points and Khalil Thomas added 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
 
THE SERIES
• Wednesday night will mark the second meeting between the teams.
• Dec. 18, 2014 - Teddy Okereafor scored 21 points and Rider topped Morgan State 62-48 at Alumni Gym. The Broncs used a 13-1 run at the start of the second half to push the lead to 42-28. Morgan State got it to five after 3-pointers by Blake Bozeman and Cedric Blossom, but Rider responded with a 7-1 spurt and held off the Bears down the stretch. Jimmie Taylor had 13 points for Rider and Matt Lopez added 12 points and 12 rebounds. MSU was led by Blossom's 21 points. Bozeman finished with 11 points as the Bears shot 33 percent from the floor.
 
NEXT UP
Morgan State will host the California Riverside in non-conference action on Monday, Dec. 28. Tip-off is scheduled for
1 p.m. at Hill Field House. The game will mark the second meeting between the teams.
 
AT THE HELM
Todd Bozeman enters his 10th year at the helm as Morgan State men's head coach. The Bears have participated in six of the last nine MEAC Tournament championships, captured back-to-back-MEAC Titles, and made appearances in the NIT and two NCAA Tournaments.
 
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).
 
HOME GROWN 
Morgan State has five (5) players from the DMV (D.C., Maryland & Metropolitan-D.C.) area, including two from Baltimore. Senior Donte Pretlow (Dunbar High) and redshirt junior Cliff Cornish (North County) are both from Baltimore. Senior Cedric Blossom (Montrose Christian) is from Columbia and senior Andrew Hampton is from Germantown (Seneca Valley), while freshman Anthony Tate (Takoma Academy) is from Fort Washington.
 
COMFORTABLE AT HILL FIELD HOUSE
Todd Bozeman has won at least 10 home games in three of his eight seasons in Baltimore. The 2007-08 (12-1) and 2009-10 (11-1) squads finished with just a single loss, while the 2010-11 squad went 10-2. Bozeman has led the Bears to a 72-31 (.700) overall home record at Hill Field House.

HITTING LONG RANGE BUCKETS
This season, Morgan State is shooting 36 percent from long range (ranks No. 2 in MEAC), averaging 6.3 per game and 17.4 attempts per game.
• The Bears have had five games of notching seven treys so far this season…all on the road: at Virginia, Towson, High Point, Wagner and #17 Cincinnati.
• Kyle Thomas is shooting 37 percent (17-46) and currently ranks No. 5 in the MEAC in 3-pointers made, while teammate Andre Horne Jr. is shooting 39 percent (11-28) and Clive 'C.J.' Vaughan Jr. has connected on 9-of-24 3-pointers.
• The Bears also currently lead the MEAC in 3FG percentage defense by limiting teams to 29 percent shooting.
• Last season, Morgan State shot 28 percent (163-for-574) that ranked No. 10 in the MEAC. The Bears averaged 5.2 treys per game. Blake Bozeman led the Bears with 69 made 3-pointers (ranked No. 5 in MEAC).

BENCH PRODUCTION
Morgan State's depth has been evident through the Bears' first nine games this season, with MSU averaging 19.7 off the bench. Coach Bozeman's bench poured in a season-high 36 points off the during Sunday's loss to Manhattan. The reserves have averaged 24.3 points in the last three contests.