treyburke
Lawrence Johnson
68
Winner Norfolk State NSUM 16-15,12-4 MEAC
62
MORGAN STATE MSUM 15-16, 9-7 MEAC
Winner
Norfolk State NSUM
16-15,12-4 MEAC
68
Final
62
MORGAN STATE MSUM
15-16, 9-7 MEAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Norfolk State NSUM 32 36 68
MORGAN STATE MSUM 25 37 62

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | MSU Athletic Communications

Bears Rally Fall Short in Regular Season Finale 68-62

BALTIMORE, Md. (March 6, 2020) -- Isaiah Burke finished with 15 points  to lead four Bears in double figures, however the Norfolk State Spartans withstood a late rally to post a 68-62 win Thursday night at Hill Field House to spoil the Morgan State's senior night celebration. 

Jermaine Bishop had a game-high 21 points to lead the Spartans (16-15, 12-4) and Joe Bryant added 12 points and four assists.

Norfolk State finished the regular season at 12-4 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), tied with North Carolina A&T for second place in the league. NSU moved to 16-15 overall.

Morgan State ended the regular season with a 15-16 overall record and placed fifth in league play with a 9-7 mark. 

Stanley Davis, David Syfax and Victor Curry were honored during a pregame senior ceremony. Davis currently 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). 
 
Davis believed his attitude improved during his four years.
 
"My attitude was terrible. I didn't care about nothing," Davis said. "I was being selfish but I feel like I improved on my attitude for sure."
 
Syfax also believes his maturity has gotten better. 
 
"I feel like my biggest growth was off the court maturity," Syfax said. "Growing as a man about to get out in the real world… I grew up a lot in these last four years."
              
Burke shot 5-of-16 overall and hit five of the team's six 3-pointers on the night. Malik Miller, the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, recorded his fourth double-double of the season by finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Davis had 14 points and seven rebounds, while Syfax chipped in 11 points. 
  
After the Spartans went on a 9-3 run to go up 63-53 with seven minutes they were able to stop the Bears comeback. 
 
Although the Bears pulled to within 63-58 with two minutes remaining, two straight turnovers allowed the Spartans to keep the Bears from taking the lead.
             
NSU set a school record by percentage with a 24-of-25 effort from the free throw line (96.0 percent), including 24 consecutive makes. The Bears shot 60 percent (12-20) from the stripe. 
 
The game was neck and neck throughout until two minutes remaining in the second half. The first half saw three ties and three changes.
 
Morgan State finished the first half shooting 34 percent (10-29). The Spartans shot 34 percent from the floor (9-26).
 
The Spartans were able to build separation and create their largest lead of 10 when they went on a 16-4 run with six minutes remaining to go up 24-14. 
 
Syfax says the team needs to play a full 40 minutes to be successful. 
 
"We played wonderfully for about 30 minutes of the game," Syfax said. "[If] we play as a team, we cut down our mistakes we're going to be unbeatable." 
 
The Bears will face the #4 seeded Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Thursday, March 11 in the MEAC Tournament. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va. For more MEAC Tournament information click here | 2020 MEAC Tournament Men's Bracket here.

ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 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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