Bear Shots
BALTIMORE, Md. -- The Morgan State Bears came into a charged up atmosphere inside Coppin State's Physical Education Complex and escaped with a 76-74 victory over the Eagles this evening.
Morgan State improved to 9-11 overall and remains in first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with a 6-1 record.
It came down to offensive rebounding and the play of junior guard Tiwian Kendley, who led all scorers with 30 points (9-19 FG) on the evening. Kendley was one of two Bears to score in double figures in this game.
It was a game of runs for these teams just like you would expect in a big rivalry game scenario like this. Only the Bears were in control for the majority of the game.
Coppin State (5-17, 4-3) led just a few times throughout the game. The last was 8-7 on a Tre' Thomas jumper with 16:16 remaining in the first half. Then Morgan State took the lead for good a little bit later on a three-point shot from Kendley with 15:52 left.
The advantage would grow to 11 points on a few occasions in this game. The first being at 33-22 on another Kendley three from the wing with 4:41 left in the first half. Coppin fought back and drew to within a basket (37-35) on a Keith Shivers dunk with 46 seconds left. Another Kendley three with 13 seconds left gave the Bears a 40-35 lead that would be the halftime score.
The second half was just a little more interesting than the first. Morgan State ballooned their lead to 11 points three separate times in the first five plus minutes of the second half. The last being at 50-39 on a lay-up from freshman forward Azariah Skyes with 14:38 left in the game.
Coppin State reacted with a 12-1 run led by Terry Harris Jr., who led four Eagles scoring in double figures with 19 points on the night. Harris Jr.'s three-point play tied the game at 51 with 11:28 left. It was the first of three times that Coppin tied the game in the second half.
The Eagles had opportunities to get back in front, but the Bears' defense had some say down the stretch and made it difficult for the Eagles to get back on top.
It came down to the last 30 seconds of the game. Sophomore guard Martez Cameron, who led everyone with a career-high 10 rebounds in the game, hit one of two free throws to give the Bears a 75-71 advantage with 25 seconds left. Then when Coppin's Keith Shivers missed a three from the right wing, Dejuan Clayton rebounded the ball and quickly took it to the left wing and hit a three from the left wing to draw the Eagles within 75-74 with 10.7 seconds left.
Then Shivers fouled Kendley with 8.3 seconds left to put him at the foul line for two shots. Kendley missed the first and nailed the second. This gave the Eagles an open door for a game winning shot. However, Clayton found Josh Treadwell, who missed a three-pointer at the buzzer as Kyle Thomas closed in fast with a hand in the air.
"Martez [Cameron] was big for us," siad Morgan State head coach Todd Bozeman. "He came and settled us down. Tiwian Kendley was a warrior like he has been, when he's able to play. Again, if it's not him, it's Phil [Carr]. We'd love to have them both at the same time. Hopefully that's going to happen soon."
Morgan State closed their three-game road trip with a 2-1 mark. The Bears return to Hill Field House on Monday night to host Florida A&M (5-15, 3-4). Tip is at 7:30 pm following the women's game.
