NORFOLK, Va. (January 20, 2021) -- A late second half Norfolk State defense led to a shooting cold spell from the Morgan State men's basketball team, and the Spartans held on to defeat the Bears 89-85 to grab a split of the back-to-back season series Sunday in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action.

NSU hosted the game at Joseph Echols Memorial Hall but wore its road black uniforms for the teams' second meeting in Norfolk in two days. MSU defeated Norfolk State 78-74 in the teams' first game Saturday behind a game-high 24-point scoring day from senior Troy Baxter.

Baxter was 8-for-19 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point territory, but today he came off the bench and it took him some time to get into rhythm. 
 
MSU (5-3, 1-1) junior guard De'Torrion Ware, instead, was the player of the day for the Bears. The junior transfer was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time this season and  scored 17 of his career-high 30 points in the first half and finished the day 7-for-10 from beyond the arc. He also led the Bears on the glass with a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with two steals and two assists.

Junior guard Trevor Moore finished with a season-high 17 points with four assists and Baxter added 15 points (6-10 FG).

NSU (5-4, 1-1) had four players score in doube-figures. J.J. Matthews had 21 points (6-9 FG) and led the Spartans with seven rebounds and a block. Jalen Hawkins scored 13 points with six rebounds and four assists off the bench. Devante Carter, who scored 7 points in the loss Saturday, turned in a 12-point afternoon with four rebounds, two assists and a couple of key free throws down the stretch. Joe Bryant also chipped in 12 points.

MSU shot 49.2% from the field, including 13-of-29 from 3-point range, but shot a season-low 55.6% from the foul line (10-of-18). Norfolk State to shot 46 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3-point territory and converted 24-of-34 (70.6 percent) from the stripe.

NSU beat the Bears on the glass, 38-33 with 26 on the defensive boards.

The teams played to a stalemate in the first half of action.

Ware carried the scoring load by putting up 11 of the Bears first 20 points of the day. 

Senior forward Victor Okafor scored on a putback dunk, followed by a floater from Troy Baxter to put the Bears ahead 24-16 for the largest lead of the half.
 
The Spartans responded with a 12-2 run to retake the lead. A layup by Kyonze Chavis helped give the Spartans a 30-26 with 5:37 left in the half.

Despite MSU's 56.5 percent shooting, the Bears went into the halftime break tied with the Spartans at 36-36.

Baxter was in the starting lineup to start the second half of play and he proceeded to go to work. The senior scored seven points to help lead the Bears on a 12-3 run to give the Bears a 48-39 advantage at the 16:39 mark.
 
Ware hit his sixth 3-pointer and Baxter finished with a two-handed dunk to give the Bears a 50-41 lead. MSU led by double-figures when Ware converted a pair of free throws and Malik Miller scored a basket to give the Bears a 60-48 lead with 12:43 remaining.
 
The Spartans mounted a 14-0 run capped by a Nyzaiah Chambers dunk and a layup by  Carter to cut the Bears lead to 62-60.

Carter hit back to back baskets as part of a 13-2 run, including an off-balance, running one-hander to put the Spartans ahead 78-70 with 2:08 left to go.

MSU kept it interesting in the final moments as they were able to take advantage of a couple of missed free throws by the Spartans. Baxter stole the ball from Joe Bryant and knocked down a 3-pointer to cut NSU's lead to 87-85 with 21 seconds to go. 

The Bears were trailing 88-85 with under 20 seconds to go when Sherwyn Devonish had his layup blocked by J.J. Matthews in the final seconds to help the Spartans clinch the win.

The Spartans turned MSU's 14 turnovers into 18 points and outscored the Bears in the paint by a 32-28 margin.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears don't play again until Jan. 16 and Jan. 17 in a MEAC series versus cross-town rival Coppin State.


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.