Men's Basketball 3/4/2021 3:00:00 PM MSU Athletics Communications

MBB Game Notes: Delaware State

Morgan State Note s (PDF) |

Delaware State Notes |

GAMEDAYGuide

Facebook.com/MorganStateBears |

@MorganStBears

Game 18-19
Opponent: Delaware State Spartans (2-15, 0-10)
Date: March 5-6, 2021
Site: Memorial Hall, Dover, Del.
Game Times: 1 p.m. EST (Fri.) | 5 p.m. EST (Sat.)
Live Stats: here | Live Stream: YouTube (DSU-TV)
MSU Coaches: MSU - Kevin Broadus (26-21, 2nd yr) • DSU - DSU - Eric Skeeters (14-66, 3rd yr)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com | www.dsuhornets.com

SETTING THE STAGE
• The Morgan State Bears will hit the hardwood for its FINAL regular season slate of games when they travel to Dover, Delaware to take on Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent Delaware State. The two teams will first meet on Friday at 1 p.m., before playing again on Saturday, with tip-off scheduled for 5 p.m. No fans will be allowed in Memorial Hall.
• Entering the contest, the overall 11-6 Bears seek to bounce back after a pair of tough losses against Norfolk State. Morgan State is currently third in the MEAC Northern Division standings with a 6-4 conference record, trailing co-leaders Norfolk State and Coppin State at 8-4.
• Morgan State has been idle since suffering back-to-back losses to Norfolk State on Feb. 13 and 14.
• 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.
• Senior forward Troy Baxter scored a season-high 28 points with seven rebounds in an 79-76 win at Coppin State (Jan. 30) ... he is currently averaging 16.9 ppg (No. 1 in MEAC), 4.7 rpg (No. 15) and is shooting 44.7 percent (101-226; No. 11) from the field ... He was named MEAC Player of the Week (Feb. 2).
• Last season, Troy Baxter had 58 blocked shots (ranked No. 2 in MEAC) in 31 games as a junior ... He currently leads the team with 25 blocks (No. 3 in MEAC).
• Malik Miller is a jack-of-all-trades for the Bears and is averaging 12.9 ppg (No. 10), 8.4 rpg (No. 2), 2.1 spg (No. 3) and ranks No. 3 in the league shooting 53.5 percent from the field ... He has been named twice as the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week (Dec. 22 & Feb. 9), and was selected MEAC Player of the Week (Jan. 19).
• Trevor Moore poured in a career-high 27 points and connected on 7-of-12 3-pointers vs. Coppin State (Jan. 17) ... He also had five boards, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot.
• De'Torrion Ware is the Bears second leading scorer by coming off the bench averaging 14.9 ppg (No. 6) and 5.0 rpg (T-No. 13).
• The Bears have a couple of talented transfers: Cincinnati transfer Trevor Moore; Sharone Wright Jr. (Wake Forest); and De'Torrion Ware (Jacksonville State).
• This year, the MEAC will split into Northern and Southern Divisions for basketball, and teams will play conference games exclusively within their division.
• Howard University announced on Tuesday that it is cancelling the rest of its 2020-21 men's basketball season o
ut of an abundance of caution due to the health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

THE SERIES
• This weekend's contests will mark the 104th and 105th matchups between the schools ... The Bears lead the series 61-42.
• Senior forward Lagio Grantsaan scored a game-high 21 points to help lift the Bears past Delaware State 74-69 at Hill Field House on Feb. 6. Grantsaan shot 70 percent (7-10) from the field and finished 5-for-7 from the free throw line for MSU, which earned its fifth consecutive victory. Malik Miller recorded his sixth double-double performance of the season as he finished with 19 points, and a season-high 17 rebounds with three steals and two blocks. Troy Baxter added 17 points, four boards and two blocks. .
• Delaware State's last win against the Bears was on March 1, 2018. Simon Okolue scored 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting, ArtemTavakalyan hit five 3-pointers and scored 22 points with four steals, and Delaware State held off the Bears in the regular-season finale for both teams. Martez Cameron and Tiwian Kendley scored 16 points apiece.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS (2-15, 0-10 MEAC)
• Head coach Eric Skeeters enters his third season leading the Delaware State men's basketball program in 2019-20.
• Myles Carter, a 6-1 transfer from Philadelphia, is the league's leading scorer averaging 14.9 points per game (Mo. 7 in MEAC), 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists ... The Palumbo HS is also shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 31.7 percent from 3-point territory and 86 percent from the stripe.
• Zach Kent, a 6-8 forward from Richmond, Va., is the team's third leading scorer averaging 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and is shooting 43.4 percent from the field ... he is also one of the MEAC's best rim protectors, ranking fourth in the league in blocks at 1.3 per game and fourth in total blocks at 19.
• Junior floor general Johquin "Pinky" Wiley leads the Hornets by dishing 4.0 assists (No. 5 in MEAC) and is chipping in 10.3 points (No. 15) and 3.7 rebounds.
• DSU is in the top half of the MEAC in seven categories, which include ranking No. 2 in blocked shots (3.8), No. 4 in free throw percentage (.695), No. 4 in rebounding offense (35.5), and No. 6 in 3-point field goal percentage (.311).
• DSU's Kevin McClain and Keith Goodie were both members of Todd Bozeman's staff (2006-15) at Morgan State during the school's back-to-back MEAC championship run in 2009 and '10.

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE HORNETS
• Feb. 28, 2021 -- Anthony Tarke scored a game-high 31 points on perfect shooting from the field to lead Coppin State to a wire-to-wire 94-74 MEAC North victory over Delaware State in Memorial Hall today. Tarke was 11-for-11 from the field, including three three-point shots, and six-of-nine at the free throw line. He also led all players with eight assists in the game.
• The performance by Tarke overshadowed a career-high effort by Delaware State's Dominik Fragala (jr.), who topped the Hornets with 28 points, second best by a DSU player this season. Fragala was 10-for-18 from the field, including five three-point field goals on nine attempts.
• After being held to two points on one-for-four shooting from the field in the first half, Fragala exploded for 26 points after halftime.
• The Hornets were 26 for 68 from the floor overall and seven of 29 from beyond the arc (24.1%).

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BEARS
• Devante Carter scored 19 points to push the visiting Norfolk State Spartans to a 68-65 win against Morgan State on Feb. 14, in the weekend series finale.
• Senior forward Troy Baxter led the Bears by scoring 16 of his game-high 21 points (6-12 FG) in the first half. Sherwyn Devonish added 12 points and five rebounds, while Moel Camara chipped in 11 points off the bench.
• Tahj-Malik Campbell completed a 3-point play after he was fouled on a putback to knot the game at 65 apiece with just 2:25 to play. The Spartans would go on to convert 3-of-4 free throws in the final moments, including two by Carter with 3 seconds left. MSU's last second push for a shot before the buzzer ended in a turnover.

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).

OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
• Morgan State is currently lead the MEAC in scoring by averaging 80.4 points (No. 25 in the nation) thru its first 17 games of the 2020-21 season.
• The Bears have scored 208 points (69.3 ppg) over the course of their last three games.
• They scored a season-high 102 in a home win vs. Lincoln-Pa. (Dec. 1, 2020).
• Thru 31 games of the 2019-20 season, the Bears averaged 70.4 ppg (ranked No. 6 in MEAC) and shot 42.4 percent from the field (ranks No. 5) and 28.1 percent from beyond the arc (No. 10).
• They scored a season-high 112 in a triple overtime thriller vs. Evansville (Nov. 24, 2019).

LET IT FLY
• The Bears are shooting 34.0 percent from beyond the arc and rank No. 3 in the MEAC.
• De'Torrion Ware leads Morgan State with 2.2 3-point field goals per game and is shooting at a 38.1 percent clip (No. 10). Troy Baxter  is averaging1.9 3-pointers per game, followed by Trevor Moore's 1.6.
• Lagio Grantsaan is chipping in 1.3 three-point field goals per game, and is shooting a 44.0 percent (No. 2 in the MEAC).
• The Bears connected on a season-high 14 3-pointers vs. Lincoln-Pa. (Dec. 1).
• Morgan State shot a league-best 57.9 percent (11-19) in a road win at Iona (Dec. 8).

GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START
• The Bears are 7-1 this season when leading at halftime.
• On the flip side, MSU has compiled a 2-4 record in games it is trailing at halftime.
• The Bears' only wins when trailing at halftime came at James Madison (Jan. 3) and at Coppin State (Jan. 30).
• MSU is 2-1 in games when tied at halftime.

THREE PLAYERS AVERAGING DOUBLE-FIGURES
The Bears will enter Saturday's contest with three players averaging double-digits.
• Senior forward Troy Baxter holds the lead for the team high in points, averaging 16.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 25 blocked shots.
• Junior De'Torrion Ware is averaging 14.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and is shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc ... he recorded a 36-point outing vs. Delaware State (Jan. 24).
• Junior Malik Miller, who exploded for 30 points versus Coppin State (Jan. 17), is the team's third leading scorer averaging 12.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and is shooting 53.5 percent from the field.

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.

2021 MEAC TOURNAMENT
The 2021 Air Force Reserve MEAC Basketball Tournament will take place Wednesday through Saturday, March 10-13, at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va. For more info click here.

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.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

#2 Martez Cameron: G; 5' 11"; Senior

#15 Isaiah Burke: G; 6' 1"; Freshman

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

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

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

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

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

#0 Lagio Grantsaan: F; 6' 8"; Senior

#11 Malik Miller: G; 6' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

#2 Martez Cameron
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G

#15 Isaiah Burke
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: G

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

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

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

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

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

#0 Lagio Grantsaan
: 6' 8"; Senior
: F

#11 Malik Miller
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G