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Game 9
Opponent: Millersville Marauders (6-1)
Date: Monday, December 6, 2021
Site: Hill Field House, Baltimore, Md.
Game Time: 5 p.m. EST
Live Stats: here /Live Stream: here
MSU Coaches: MSU -Kevin Broadus (69-54, 3rd yr) • MU - Casey Stitzel (42-61, 5th yr)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com | www.millersvilleathletics.com

SETTING THE STAGE
Morgan State (3-5) will continue non-conference action when they play host to the Millersville Marauders (6-1) on Monday, December 6. The Bears look to build off a 60-49 victory against Hampton at the Boost Mobile HBCU Challege Hosted by Chris Paul in Phoenix, Arizona. Millersville will enter the contest coming off an 83-51 loss against Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday. Monday night's game will also be streamed on morganstatebears.com and broadcast by HSRN.com. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. 
• De'Torrion Ware, a junior from Hopkinsville Ky., was named the preseason MEAC Player of the Year ... he finished the 2020-21 season as the Bears leader in scoring with 375 points (17.0 ppg; No. 1 in MEAC) and was second on the team in rebounding with 125 (5.7 avg; No. 7) ... He ranked among the league leaders in three-point field goals made with 54 (T-No. 1) and his .388 three-point field goal percentage ranked eighth. 
• Senior guard Sherwyn Devonish averaged 8.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 29.5 minutes per contest in his third season as the Bears starting point guard ... He shot 50 percent from the floor, 40.2 percent from 3-point range and 81.6 percent from the charity stripe and led the team in assists with 3.6 assists per game (T-No. 8 in MEAC).
• Lagio Grantsaan averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds last season ... He ranked No. 2 in the league in field goal shooting percentage (.530) and ranked No. 7 from beyond the arc where he shot 39.1 percent ...The 6-8 forward also had 33 assists, 18 steals and 4 blocks.
• Senior guard Malik Miller, a second-team selection at the end of the year, was Morgan's third leading scorer, averaging 12.1 points per game ... he ranked among the league leaders in a number of categories: 8.0 rebounds (No. 2), 2.0 steals (No. 3) and ranked No. 5 in the league shooting 51.0 percent from the field. 
• A couple of transfers could make an impact. Seventh Woods, who played at North Carolina from 2016-2019 and South Carolina from 2020-2021. The 6-foot-2, 184-pound guard won a national championship with the Tar Heels in 2017. The Bears also brought in Keith McGee (New Mexico), Myles Douglas (St. Joseph's), Collin Nnamene (Mount St. Mary's) and Ty Horner (North Dakota State Sciences).
• Last season, the MEAC split into Northern and Southern Divisions for basketball, and teams played conference games exclusively within their division.

THE SERIES
Monday's contest will mark the first matchup between the schools.

SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS
Casey Stitzel enters his fifth season as head coach and in four seasons he has returned Millersville to perennial postseason fixtures and has built a foundation for sustained success ... A two-time MAC Freedom Coach of the Year, Stitzel spent eight seasons as the head coach at Delaware Valley University where he became the winningest coach in Delaware Valley history ... His father, Glenn Stitzel, was a 1,000-point scorer on the hardwood and star on the baseball diamond from 1965-68. Glenn, who still holds the school record for most points scored in a game (58).
• Millersville enters Monday's contest coming off an 83-51 home loss against Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday (Dec. 4). Jaden Faulkner and Caden Najdawi led the Marauders with 11 points each. Faulkner also finished with six assists and five steals. The Marauders shot just 29 percent (17-58) from the field and went 5 for 30 from beyond the arc.
• Jaden Faulkner (Landover, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt HS) is one of four players averaging double-figures for the Marauders. Faulkner leads MIllersville by averaging 17.0 points and 7.4 rebounds.  Khari Williams (Norristown, Pa.) is averaging 14.1 points and 4.3 boards, Caden Najdawi (Chesterfield, Va.) is averaging 13.0 points and is the team's leading rebounder (9.3 rpg). James Sullivan (Grottoes, Va.) is chipping in 11 points and 3.0 rebounds.
• Millersville have limited opponents to 66.4 points per game and 38.5 percent shooting, including 35.3 percent from three.
• The Marauders are averaging 78.2 points thru its first seven games and are shooting 44 percent from the field and 31 percent from downtown.
• The Marauders are currently 6-1 overall and 1-1 in PSAC play. 

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BEARS
•  Nov 29, 2021 -- Malik Miller recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead Morgan State to a 60-47 victory against Hampton in Monday night's finale of the HBCU Challenge Hosted by Chris Paul. 
•  The Bears (3-5), who lost to Grambling State the previous night, snapped a 5-game losing streak and defeated the Pirates for the first time since Feb. 25, 2017.
•  Seventh Woods came off the bench to score 12 points, hitting 4 of 5 shots from the floor, in the ESPNU-televised game. Lagio Grantsaan added 10 points and six rebounds
• Both teams struggled to make baskets from 3-point range, with the Bears making 1 of 17 and the Pirates 3 of 18.
•  Morgan expanded the lead early in the second half. Miller fed Collin Nnamene for a dunk to go up 38-29 with 12:09 left.  A pick-and-pop by Grantsaan gave the Bears a 42-29 lead – part of a 13-3 run over a 6-minute stretch. The Bears would go on to lead by double digits for the final eight minutes.

CHRIS PAUL HBCU CHALLENGE
The Bears early schedule includes playing eight of nine games away from Hill Field House, highlighting that stretch was back-to-back games in the Chris Paul HBCU Challenge in Phoenix, where the Bears met Grambling State (Nov. 28 / L, 74-59) and Hampton (Nov. 29 / W, 60-47).
• The first-of-its-kind event for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will be played at the Footprint Center (Home of the Phoenix Suns) and air on ESPN Networks. 
• The two-day doubleheader will feature the likes of Norfolk State University, Morgan State University, Hampton University and Grambling State University.

NBA HBCU CLASSIC
The NBA today announced an extension of its ongoing commitment to Historically  Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with new programs designed to create greater opportunity for students and  alumni, encourage economic advancement and further celebrate their rich traditions.
• The celebrations will be highlighted by a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup between  Howard University and Morgan State University men's basketball teams. The game will be played at the  Wolstein Center in Cleveland on February 19, 2022 and will be broadcast live. 
• The NBA 2K League will host events on HBCU campuses to introduce students to careers in gaming and  esports, creating pathways for students to pursue careers in the growing industry.
• As part of this partnership, the  NBA will develop new programs and events focused on the HBCU community – specifically around professional development, career advancement and increased support and awareness for HBCU athletics and institutions.
• "Chris Paul has shown unwavering support for HBCUs and brought an awareness to creating opportunities for the student-athletes at these institutions," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "The Hall of Fame is proud to share in Chris's vision and bring this event to life alongside Boost Mobile and the Phoenix Suns."

OFFENSIVE OUTPUT 
The Bears are currently averaging 78.2 points (No. 1 in MEAC) thru its first eight games.
• Morgan exploded for 118 points in its 2021-22 season opener versus St. Mary's College of Maryland and followed it up with a 126-71 win against Penn State Allegheny.
• The Bears are shooting 44.7 percent from the field (ranked No. 3) and 30.1 percent from beyond the arc (No. 5).
• Morgan led the MEAC in scoring by averaging 79.8 points thru 22 games of the 2020-21 season.
• They scored a season-high 102 in a home win vs. Lincoln-Pa. (Dec. 1, 2020).
• MSU also led the MEAC in offensive rebounding (39.7 avg).

AT THE CHARITY LINE
The Bears' returning team includes six players who shot 70 percent or better from the free throw line last season.
• Morgan has converted 63.7 percent (114-179) from the stripe thru the first eight games.
• Sherwyn Devonish is currently shooting 70.4 percent (ranks No. 13 in MEAC) from the stripe to lead the Bears.
• Last season, Morgan shot 73.9 percent (369-499; ranked No. 1 in MEAC) from the stripe, led by De'Torrion Ware who shot 83.2 percent (84-101; ranked No. 5) and Malik Miller 71.6 percent (58-81; ranked No. 10).

BEAR D
Morgan has started off the 2021-22 campaign by allowing opponents to 73.4 points per game and 43.4 percent shooting from the field.
• MSU's opponents have shot at a 36.5 percent clip on avearge from beyond the arc ... this ranks last in the conference.
• The 23.5 turnovers per game Morgan's defense forces ranks No. 2 in the country ... MSU's 10.2 steals per game ranks T-No. 7 in the nation. 
• The Bears defense was ranked among the conference leaders a season ago and should once again be solid defensively for 2021-22 season.
• The Bears ranked No. 3 in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense at 42.2 percent.
• The Bears ranked No. 2 in the MEAC in three-point field goal percentage defense at 30.6 percent.
• MSU led the league in rebounding (+3.7) and ranked No. 2 in rebounding defense (36.0).
• MSU recorded 82 blocked shots (No. 2).

NON-CONFERENCE RECAP 
Morgan State went 7-3 in non-conference play, the most non-conference wins since a 2019-20 season in which the Bears held a 6-9 non-conference mark. Prior to that, MSU had not won at least seven non-conference games since the 2012-13 season (7-9). 
• Last season, MSU went 2-2 at home, 3-0 in road games and 2-1 in neutral site games.

WHO'S OUT
Troy Baxter (Tallahassee, Fla.), Victor Okafor (Greenbelt, Md.), Sharone Wright (Macon, Ga.),and Jamar Brown (Harlem, N.Y.) wrapped up their collegiate careers last spring.  

WHO'S BACK
The Bears return four starters from last year's team, bringing back guards Sherwyn Devonish, Malik Miller, Trevor Moore and forward Lagio Grantsaan. MSU also returns guards De'Torrion Ware, Isaiah Burke, Naseem Khaalid, Thai're Vance, Elijah Bowens along with forward Chad Venning.

WHO'S IN 
The Bears have added several newcomers to the 2021-22 roster: G Seventh Woods, G Will Thomas, G Keith McGee, F Ty Horner, F Collin Nnamene and F Myles Douglas.

RETURNING PRODUCTION NUMBERS 
Morgan State returns 72.4 percent of its scoring, 63.7 percent of its rebounding and 70.4 percent of its minutes played totals from last year's team. The team leaders in field goal percentage (De'Torrion Ware - .425), three-point percentage (De'Torrion Ware, .384), free throw percentage (De'Torrion Ware, .832), rebounding (Malik Miller - 8.0 rpg), assists (Sherwyn Devonish, 3.6), steals (Malik Miller, 2.0),  blocked shots (Malik Miller, 0.9). and minutes played (Sherwyn Devonish, 29.5).  Four (4) players who started in at least five (5) games a year ago also return - Devonish (22), Miller (22), Lagio Grantsaan (21 ), and Trevor Moore (20).

HOME GROWN 
Morgan State has seven players from the DMV (D.C., Maryland & Metropolitan-D.C.) area. Senior guard Sherwyn Devonish is from Bladensburg, Md. and graduated from Wise HS. Senior guard Isaiah Burke is from Annapolis and was a prep standout at Bowie HS, while senior guard Malik Miller hails from Washington, D.C. and played at Friendship Tech Prep. Senior forward Myles Douglas is from Edgewood, Md. and was a standout at Aberdeen HS. Sophomore guard Will Thomas is from Baltiomore and played at Mervo HS. Junior guard Thai're Vance is a product of Silver Spring, Md. and played at DeMatha Catholic HS. 

BROADUS' STAFF
Morgan State head basketball coach Kevin Broadus' coaching staff enters their third season. The Bears coaching staff consists of assistant coaches Brian Merritt, Chretien Lukusa and Kevin Jones.
• Merritt enters his third 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 third 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 third 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 SCHEDULE
The season begins with back-to-back home games against St. Mary's (Md.) and Penn State Allegheny the first week of the season before playing eight of the next nine away from Hill Field House. The highlight of that stretch is back-to-back games in the Chris Paul HBCU Challenge in Phoenix, where the Bears will meet Grambling State (Nov. 28) and Hampton (Nov. 29).
• Morgan State's only trips to play power conference opponents come around the holidays, with a Dec. 23 trek to Wisconsin and a visit to Kansas State six days later. From there, it's the 14-game MEAC schedule, starting with a Jan. 8 trip to North Carolina Central.
• The Bears play crosstown rival Coppin State at home on Jan. 15, beginning a stretch of seven out of 11 games at home. After the Feb. 28 home finale against Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan closes the regular season at Coppin State on March before starting MEAC tournament play the following week in Norfolk, Va.

PREDICTED TO FINISH SECOND IN THE MEAC
The Bears were picked second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's preseason poll, their second consecutive season of being projected to finish in second place.
• The 2021-22 Bears earned 99 total points in the voting, while claiming three of the 16 first-place votes. Norfolk State claimed 10 first place votes and 119 points total as the defending MEAC champions. North Carolina Central (93 pts) was selected third, followed by Coppin State (89 pts), Howard (70 pts) and Delaware State (43 pts). South Carolina State (39 pts) and Maryland Eastern Shore (24 pts) rounded out the league's predicted order of finish.
• With the second-place selection, the Bears also earned an unprecedented five selections on the preseason all-MEAC squad as the quintet of De'Torrion Ware, Malik Miller, Lagio Grantsaan, Sherwyn Devonish., and Trevor Moore were all named. 
• In addition, Ware was selected as the league's Preseason Player of the Year – he becomes just the third Bear to ever be selected for the preseason honor, joining Phillip Carr (2017) and Kevin Thompson (2010). Reggie Holmes is the last Bears to win the regular-season award, when he received the award in 2009.
• It is the biggest contingent of Bears on the preseason team since 2013-14 as the Bears had Justin Black, Ian Chiles and Anthony Hubbard on the roster. 
• The selections are well-earned – the Bears reached the MEAC tournament finals last season for the first time since 2014 and has one of the most experienced squads in program history coming back for this campaign. The Bears look primed to make a run for the MEAC title this season and try to raise the 6^th regular-season and 4^thtournament championship banners in the Hill Field House.
• The 2022 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off March 9-12 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.