Men's Basketball 12/7/2020 9:30:00 AM MSU Athletics Communications

MBB Game Notes: Iona

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Game 3
Opponent: Iona Gaels (1-1)
Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Site: Hynes Center, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Game Time: 3 p.m. EST
Live Stats: icgaels.com | Live Stream: ESPN3
MSU Coaches: MSU - Kevin Broadus (16-17, 2nd yr) • Iona - Rick Pitino (1-1)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com | www.icgaels.com

SETTING THE STAGE
• Morgan State will travel to face the Iona Gaels on Tuesday (Dec. 8) in New Rochelle, New York. The game will mark the 6th meeting between the schools on the hardwood with the Gaels leading the series 5-0. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. ET at Hynes Center and will be streamed live on ESPN3.
• Kevin Broadus enters his second year at the helm of the Morgan State Bears. The Bears won 15 games in his debut season, their most since 2013-14, finished sixth in the MEAC
• Junior forward Lagio Grantsaan scored 19 points with nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block against Lincoln-Pa. (Dec. 1) ... he is currently averaging 10.5 ppg, 5.5. rpg and 4 apg.
• Last season, Troy Baxter had 58 blocked shots (ranked No. 2 in MEAC) in 31 games and averaged 5.1 rebounds per game as a junior ... he is currently averaging 15.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg.
• Malik Miller  is a jack-of-all-trades for the Bears and is currently leading the Bears averaging 17 ppg and 9 rpg ... He was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week (March 3) as a result of recording a career-high 18 rebounds with 14 points, three steals and three assists against Coppin State (Feb. 29).
• A couple of transfers could make an impact. Troy Holston has played at both South Florida and Saint Joseph's and is a capable shooter. Cincinnati transfer Trevor Moore figures to have an immediate impact as well as Sharone Wright Jr. (Wake Forest) and De'Torrion Ware (Jacksonville State).

2020-21 HOME PROTOCOLS
The 2020-21 seasons will begin without spectators in attendance at Hill Field House Arena.
• The men's and women's basketball programs will adhere to NCAA guidelines and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference policies and procedures, including COVID-19 testing protocols, while also operating in alignment with state and local public health officials.
• Hill Field House will operate with limited access only to include essential staff and personnel, including participating teams. Capacity restrictions will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and adjusted as allowed as public health conditions improve as public health conditions and recommendations improve.

DAVIS GONE
The Bears will look to offset the loss of graduated Stanley Davis, who led the Bears in scoring 13.7 points (ranked No. 9 in MEAC), rebounds (6.0 rpg - No. 8) and assists (2.5) a season ago.

THE SERIES
• The game will be the sixth matchup between the schools ... The Gaels lead the series 5-0 since 1983.
• Iona's last meeting against the Bears was on January 3, 2001 when the Gaels recorded an 81-72 win.
• The Gaels have a 14-2 record against MEAC opponents ... the losses were to South Carolina State and Bethune-Cookman.

SCOUTING THE GAELS
• Iona College, a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), begins the first season under legendary head coach Rick Pitino ... Pitino has taken four different programs to the NCAA tournament and coached two national championship teams. During his 32 seasons as a collegiate head coach, coach Pinto has a 770-271 overall record and a 54-19 record in the NCAA Tournament.
• Iona finished the 2019-20 season with a 12-17 overall mark and finished with a 9-11 mark in the MAAC ... The Gaels were knocked off by Saint Peter's in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament, 56-54 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. MAAC Rookie of the Year Aaron Estrada of Saint Peter's hit the game-winning shot with 1.2 seconds remaining.
• The Gaels have a pair of players averaging double-figures. Senior 6-3 guard Isaiah Ross leads the way by averaging 28.0 ppg (No. 3 in the nation) and 5.5 rpg, followed by freshman 6-9 forward Nelly Joseph who is averaging 13.5 ppg and leads the team on the boards with 8 rpg (T-No. 2).
• Freshman 6-0 guard Ryan Myers is chipping in 9 ppg and is shooting 50 percent from the field.
• Iona is averaging 73.0 points per game (1st in MAAC), while holding its opponents to 80 points (6th).
• The Gaels rank No. 1 in the conference in free throw percentage (.821), field goal percentage (.437) and 3-point field goal percentage (.380).

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE GAELS
Iona picked up its first win of the season last Saturday against the Hofstra Pride, 82-74.
• senior Isaiah Ross pouring in a career-high 33 points and freshman Nelly Junior Joseph collecting his first-ever double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
• It was the first win for Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino at the helm of the Iona Gaels.
• The Gaels out-rebounded the Pride, 43-31. Iona had 13 offensive rebounds which led to 19 second chance points.

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BEARS
• De'Torrion Ware drilled 6 of 8 3-pointers and scored 24 points off the bench and Morgan State topped Division II Lincoln (PA) 102-94 last Tuesday night at Hill Field House.
• Lagio Grantsaan had 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to for Morgan State (1-1). Malik Miller added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Troy Baxter had 14 points.
• Ware scored buried a corner 3-pointer during a final 13-5 run, and Malik Miller made 4 of 4 free throws down to stretch as the Bears picked up their first win of the season.
• Troy Baxter scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half to help the Bears get out to a 20-3 lead.

RETURNING PRODUCTION NUMBERS
Morgan State returns 65.7 percent of its scoring, 59.6 percent of its rebounding and 68.5 percent of its minutes played totals from last year's team. The team leaders in field goal percentage (Jamar Brown - .448), three-point percentage (Isaiah Burke, .390), free throw percentage (Lagio Grantsaan, .815), rebounding (Malik Miller - 5.4 rpg), assists (Sherwyn Devonish, 2.2), steals (Malik Miller, 1.0), blocked shots (Troy Baxter, 1.9). and minutes played (Sherwyn Devonish, 31.7). Six (5) players who started in at least five (5) games a year ago also return - Devonish (31), Baxter (26), Burke (23 ), Brown (17), Miller (11) and Okafor (8).

BEAR D
The Bears defense was ranked among the conference leaders a season ago and should once again be solid defensively for 2020-21 season.
• The Bears have limited opponents to 78 points per game and rank No. 3 in scoring defense.
• The Bears have held opponents to shooting 24.5 percent (12-49; No. 1) from beyond the arc.
• MSU ranks No. 1 in the MEAC in rebounding margin, No. 2 in rebounding offense (36.0 avg) and T-No. 2 in rebounding defense (38.0 avg).

AT THE CHARITY LINE
• The Bears have started the 2020-21 season by connecting on 74.3 percent (26-35) of its free throws and currently rank No. 3 in the conference.
• Morgan State shot 69.7 percent (492-709; ranked No. 4 in MEAC) from the stripe, led by  Stanley Davis who shot 78.4 percent (109-139; ranked No. 6 in MEAC), Troy Baxter shot 71.4 percent (65-91; ranked No. 11) and Isaiah Burke 70.8 percent (34-48).

2019-20 NON-CONFERENCE RECAP
Morgan State went 6-9 in non-conference play, the most non-conference wins since a 2017-18 season in which the Bears held a 6-10 non-conference mark. Prior to that, MSU had not won at least six non-conference games since the 2012-13 season (7-9).
• MSU played seven teams that are .500 or better and five of its opponents have won eight or more games.
• MSU went 4-2 at home, 2-4 in road games and 0-3 in neutral site games.
AT THE HELM
Kevin Broadus enters his second year at the helm as Morgan State's 16th head coach of the men's basketball program effective May 1, 2019.
• The Bears won 15 games in his debut season, their most since 2013-14, finished sixth in the MEAC.
• Broadus came to Morgan from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he was one of the nation's best recruiters as the top assistant on Mark Turgeon's coaching staff.
• He was consistently ranked in the top 20 nationally for recruiting, Broadus was instrumental in signing a number of local Baltimore talents such as DeJuan Summers, Brandon Herbert, LaFonta Johnson, and Henry Sims.
WHO'S OUT
Stanley Davis (Chester, Pa.), David Syfax Jr. (Detroit, Mich.) and Victor Curry (Chicago, Ill.) wrapped up their collegiate careers and graduated last spring. Davis ranks No. 24 on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,044 points -- passing Tiwian Kendley (No. 26 - 1,032 pts) and James Turk (No. 25 - 1,035 pts).

WHO'S BACK
The Bears return four starters from last year's team, bringing back guards Isaiah Burke and Sherwyn Devonish  and forwards Troy Baxter and Jamar Brown. MSU also returns guard Malik Miller, Tahj-Malik Campbell, Thai're Vance, Moel Camara, along with forwards Victor Okafor, Lagio Grantsaan and Peter Sorber.
WHO'S IN
The Bears have added several newcomers to the 2020-21 roster: G Naseem Kaalid, G Sharone Wright Jr., G De'Torrion Ware, G Trevor Moore and G Troy Holston.

RETURNING PRODUCTION NUMBERS
Morgan State returns 65.7 percent of its scoring, 59.6 percent of its rebounding and 68.5 percent of its minutes played totals from last year's team. The team leaders in field goal percentage (Jamar Brown - .448), three-point percentage (Isaiah Burke, .390), free throw percentage (Lagio Grantsaan, .815), rebounding (Malik Miller - 5.4 rpg), assists (Sherwyn Devonish, 2.2), steals (Malik Miller, 1.0), blocked shots (Troy Baxter, 1.9). and minutes played (Sherwyn Devonish, 31.7). Six (5) players who started in at least five (5) games a year ago also return - Devonish (31), Baxter (26), Burke (23 ), Brown(17), Miller (11) and Okafor (8).

HOME GROWN
Morgan State has eight players from the DMV (D.C., Maryland & Metropolitan-D.C.) area. Junior guard Sherwyn Devonish is from Bladensburg, Md. and graduated from Wise HS. Junior guard Isaiah Burke is from Annapolis and was a prep standout at Bowie HS, while junior guard Moel Camara is from Baltimore and played at Baltimore City C.C. Junior guard Malik Miller hails from Washington, D.C. and played at Friendship Tech Prep. Redshirt freshman forward Josiah Marable is also a D.C. product who was a standout at Woodrow Wilson HS. Senior forward Victor Okafor is from Greenbelt, Md. and played at Eleanor Roosevelt HS. Sophomore guard Thai're Vance is a product of Silver Spring, Md. and played at DeMatha Catholic HS. Elijah Bowens is a junior guard from Bowie who transferred from Christopher Newport University.

BROADUS' STAFF
Morgan State head basketball coach Kevin Broadus' coaching staff enters their second season. The Bears coaching staff consists of assistant coaches Brian Merritt, Chretien Lukusa and Kevin Jones.
• Merritt enters his second season on the Bears staff after serving the last two seasons as the Coordinator of Basketball Operations at LSU. Merritt, a native of St. Mary's County, Maryland, joined LSU prior to the 2017-18 season after serving as Director of Scouting/Recruiting for John Lucas Enterprises.
• Lukusa enters his second season at Morgan State and was previously spent five years on Binghamton's staff, including a pair of seasons on the coaching side. A 2011 Binghamton graduate who also earned his master's degree at the University, Lukusa returned to the program in 2014. After serving two seasons as the coordinator of player development, Lukusa earned a promotion to assistant coach in Summer 2016.
• Jones, who is also in his second season at MSU, was previously the assistant director of basketball operations and video coordinator at Radford University (2018-19) where he oversaw all things video and technology. Prior to Radford, Jones was an assistant coach at Norfolk State (2015-18) where he helped guide the Spartans to back-to-back second-place finishes in the MEAC and coached three All-MEAC guards.

THE BAXTER EFFECT
In his first season as a Bear, Troy Baxter finished second on the team in scoring (10.2) and third in minutes played (26.4 per game) last season. He averaged 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, while starting 26 of the 30 games played. He ranked second in the MEAC in blocks, 11th in free throw percentage (.714), and 15th in defensive rebounding (3.9),
• A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Baxter reached double figures in scoring 15 times and had two double-doubles. He recorded a season-high five blocked shots during the Bears win against Central Penn on Nov. 6, 2019. He scored a season-high 30 points (9-17 FG) and grabbed 10 rebounds and two blocks in 46 minutes during a triple-overtime loss against Evansville in The Islands of the Bahamas Showcase (Nov. 24).  Baxter completed the season with a team-high 23 dunks.
• He was selected to the 2020-21 Preseason All-MEAC second team ... he opened the season with 17 points and five rebounds vs. Mount St. Mary's (Nov. 25), followed by 14 points and 5 boards vs. Lincoln-Pa. (Dec. 1).

PREDICTED TO FINISH SECOND IN THE MEAC
The Morgan State men's basketball team has been tabbed to finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Men's Basketball Northern Division Poll.
• Morgan State was picked to finish second, followed by the Howard Bison, who made a splash in the offseason with the addition of preseason First Team honoree Makur Maker. Coppin State was picked to finish third, while Delaware State and Maryland Eastern Shore rounded out the division.
• The Bears return four starters from last year's team, bringing back guards  Sherwyn Devonish-Prince, Jr. and Isaiah Burke, along with forwards Baxter and Jamar Brown. Also back is guard Malik Miller and forward Lagio Grantsaan.
• MSU was selected to finish eighth in 2019-20, earning 101 points in the poll of the league's head coaches and sports information directors who could not vote for their own team or team members. North Carolina Central (203 points), who captured its third straight MEAC Tournament championship last season, edged out Bethune-Cookman (198 points) for first place honors, followed by defending regular-season champion Norfolk State.
• The 2021 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off March 8-13 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. For more information about the MEAC and its sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACSports.com.

HOW TO WATCH GAMES: All men's and women's basketball home games will be video streamed for free through the MorganStateBears.com website. The latest broadcast and video stream information will always be listed on men's and women's basketball schedule pages at MorganStateBears.com.

MEN'S & WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RADIO: All home games and select away games for MSU men's and women's basketball will once again be available through Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN.com). Lamont Germany will handle play-by-play responsibilities and will also host pre-game and post-game shows. Including exclusive interviews with members of the teams and women's coach Ed Davis and men's coach Kevin Broadus. Fans can download the HSRN app for free and listen to the MSU broadcasts from anywhere. Simply search for HSRN when using the iHeartRadio app.

FOLLOW US IN CYBERSPACE
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more.
• Follow us on social media:
            Facebook: /MorganStateBears
            Twitter: @MorganStBears
            Instagram: /MorganStateBears

ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Tiwian Kendley: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#0 Stanley Davis: G; 6' 5"; Junior

#3 Victor Curry: F; 6' 8"; Junior

#1 Troy Baxter: F; 6' 9"; Senior

#24 Elijah Bowens: G; 5' 11"; Junior

#44 Jamar Brown: F; 6' 9"; Senior

#2 Isaiah Burke: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#3 Moel Camara: G; 6' 5"; Junior

#15 Tahj-Malik Campbell: G; 6' 5"; Sophomore

#5 Sherwyn Devonish: G; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#5 Tiwian Kendley
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#0 Stanley Davis
: 6' 5"; Junior
: G

#3 Victor Curry
: 6' 8"; Junior
: F

#1 Troy Baxter
: 6' 9"; Senior
: F

#24 Elijah Bowens
: 5' 11"; Junior
: G

#44 Jamar Brown
: 6' 9"; Senior
: F

#2 Isaiah Burke
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#3 Moel Camara
: 6' 5"; Junior
: G

#15 Tahj-Malik Campbell
: 6' 5"; Sophomore
: G

#5 Sherwyn Devonish
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G