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GAME 8: CINCINNATI BEARCATS  (7-1, 0-0 American Athletic)
Sunday, December 6, 2015 • 5:30 p.m. • First Third Arena • Cincinnati, Ohio
Television: American Sports Network/ESPN3
Radio: Fox 1360 (Cincinnati) 
Series Record: First Meeting
Head Coaches: MSU - Todd Bozeman (152-145, 10th yr) • UC- Mick Cronin (192-119, 9th)
Website: MSU - www.morganstatebears.com; www.GoBEARCATS.com
 
BEARS TRAVEL TO FACE NO. 17 CINCINNATI SUNDAY AT FIRST THIRD ARENA
The Morgan State Bears will end a three-game road swing Sunday, December 6 against the 17th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats. It will mark the first-ever meeting between the teams. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m at Fifth Third Arena.

PREVIEWING THE BEARCATS
• Cincinnati returns five starters and nine letterwinners from its 2014-15 squad that went 23-11, and went 13-5 and tied for third place in American Athletic Conference play. The Bearcats lost to the Kentucky Wildcats in the third round of the NCAA tournament.
• Mick Cronin (Cincinnati, '97) enters his 10th season as the Bearcats' head men's basketball coach. He currently holds a 192-119 record. He has led the Bearcats to five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. 
• Cincinnati was picked third in the 2015-16 American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.
• Octavius Ellis led the Bearcats in scoring (9.9 points) and blocks (2.0) while ranking second in rebounding (7.2) during the 2014-15 season. The Memphis (T.N.) native is currently averaging 10.8 points and 8.0 rebounds through the Bearcats' first eight games.
• Senior guard Farad Cobb (6-1, 170) is currently leading the Bearcats by averaging 10.9 points per game on 47 percent (32-68) shooting from the field and has connected on 19-of-39 (.487) from beyond the arc.
• Cincinnati is shooting 47 percent from the floor as a team and has connected on 68-of-173 (.393) 3-pointers.
• The No. 17 ranked Bearcats enter Sunday night's contest coming off a 78-76 buzzer beating loss against Butler on Wednesday inside First Third Arena. UC shot 50 percent from the field, made 8-of-21 from 3-point territory and 18-of-24 from the stripe. The Bearcats had three players score in double figures, led by Octavius Ellis (12 rebounds) and Jacob Evans, who posted 16 points apiece. Troy Caupain added 12 points (4-8 FG) and dished out six assists.
 
THE SERIES
Sunday night will mark the first meeting between the teams.
 
NEXT UP
The Bears will go 14 days before they tip-off in non-conference action against the Manhattan Jaspers on Sunday, Dec. 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hill Field House. Manhattan leads the series 2-1 since 2008.

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 72-30 (.705) overall home record at Hill Field House.

HITTING LONG RANGE BUCKETS
This season, Morgan State is shooting 36 percent from long range, averaging 6.7 per game and 18.9 attempts per game. 
• The Bears have had four games of notching seven treys so far this season…all on the road: at Virginia, at Towson, at High Point and at Wagner.
• Clive 'C.J.' Vaughan Jr. has connected on 9-of-19 3-pointers and currently ranked No. 4 in the MEAC, while teammate Andre Horne Jr. is shooting 39 percent (11-28 3FG).
• 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).