CLEVELAND, Ohio (Feb. 19, 2022) -- Kyle Foster had 18 points as Howard narrowly defeated Morgan State 68-66 on Saturday in the NBA HBCU Classic, part of NBA All-Star Weekend. Randall Brumant and Elijah Hawkins added 17 points each for the Bison.
Tai Bibbs had 10 points for Howard (14-10, 7-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), which won its sixth consecutive game.
The Bison improved to 2-0 against the Bears on the season. Howard defeated Morgan State 91-82 on Jan. 22 in Baltimore.
Junior guard De'Torrion Ware scored a game-high 19 points to pace Morgan State (8-13, 3-6 MEAC), which held the lead for more than 70% of the game. Senior forward Lagio Grantsaan hit two free throws with 1:16 left to give the Bears a 65-63 lead, but freshman guard Elijah Hawkins and Foster each it a pair of free throws down the stretch to help the Bison (14-10, 7-3) secure their sixth straight victory.
Ware's potential game-winning 3-pointer with 23 seconds left bounced off the rim, and Foster was fouled after coming down with the rebound. The Bears shot just 1-for-12 from 3-point range, but outrebounded Howard 34-25 and went 19-for-27 from the free-throw line. Morgan State's bench also outscored Howard's 38-2.
Grantsaan and sophomore forward Chad Venning — who scored the historic first points of the game — each finished with 11 points for the Bears.
After the game, Morgan State coach Kevin Broadus and Howard coach Kenneth Blackeney were each presented with plaques at center court to commemorate the historic matchup.
All-Stars Stephen Curry and Chris Paul spoke to each team in the locker room before the game, which was broadcast nationally on TNT and ESPN2, and Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young took photos with the Morgan State players before the opening tipoff at Cleveland State's Wolstein Center.
Celebrities such as Milwaukee Bucks star and 2021 NBA champion Khris Middleton, NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Gary Payton and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee watched the game from their courtside seats, while Coppin State alumna Stephanie Ready hosted commentary from inside the stadium with NBA legend Isiah Thomas and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith.
Next Up:
Morgan State will face the Norfolk State Spartans (18-5, 9-1) on Monday night at Hill Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, 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.
