Box Score SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Nov 24,2023)--Morgan State survived a late run by the Bulldogs of UNC Asheville in the final two minutes to earn a 53-51 victory at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in the Puerto Rico Clasico.
 
It was the first meeting between the two teams since 2006, when the Bulldogs dealt Morgan State a 63-45 loss in the opener of the Carolina First Classic (11/17/06) hosted by UNC Asheville.
 
Friday's win ended a season-long two-game losing skid for Morgan State (3-3) and also provided the Lady Bears with the program's first win in Puerto Rico in 11 tries.
 
Gabrielle Johnson led the way with a team-high 13 points and Sedayjha Payne came off the bench to add 12 points and a team-high six rebounds. Johnson and Payne each recorded a game-high three steals, as Morgan tallied 15 thefts as a team.
 
Morgan State took its largest lead of the game at nine points (50-41), when Tamaria Rumph got a steal, scored and then added the free throw to complete the three-point play with 1:57 left in the game.
 
That's when the Bulldogs, with the help of four Morgan State turnovers, closed out the game on a 10-3 run. Back-to-back layups by Laimani Simmons concluded seven straight points by UNC Asheville, cutting the Morgan lead to two points at 50-48 with 48 seconds remaining.
 
Following two free throws by Payne to increase the Morgan lead to 52-48 with 19 seconds left, the Bulldogs' Millie Brown knocked down a three-pointer with eight seconds remaining. Payne would connect on the first of two free throw attempts for the game's final score.
 
Morgan State forced 25 UNC Asheville turnovers and turned them into 23 points. The Lady Bears held the advantage in points in the paint (32-26) and fast break points (12-3).
 
The Bulldogs (2-3) were led by Simmons, who came off the bench to score a game-high 14 points. Brown and Mallory Bruce each added eight points. McKinley Brooks-Sumpter pulled down a game-high eight rebounds and Jaila Lee added seven, as UNC Asheville held a 43-32 rebounding advantage.
 
Both teams would like to forget the first 10 minutes of the game, as Morgan State held a 6-4 lead after the first period. The Lady Bears scored 19 seconds into the game on a layup by Kaia Ponder and wouldn't score again until a jumper by Payne at the 3:48 mark, tying the score at 4-4. Joelle Johnson rounded out the scoring with a layup with 2:59 remaining to give Morgan State the 6-4 lead.
 
The Lady Bears would hold the Bulldogs scoreless for the final 6:38 of the opening quarter. Morgan State committed six turnovers and the Bulldogs had five. The Lady Bears shot 3-for-12, including 0-for-4 from three-point range, while UNC Asheville was 2-for-12 (16.6%) and 0-for-3 from beyond the arc in the first quarter.
 
UNC Asheville would have slightly better production in the second quarter and took a 15-13 lead into the locker room.   
 
Morgan State will be off until Wednesday, Nov. 29, when they visit local foe Towson in the Charm City Classic. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at SECU Arena.
 
 
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS 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. 
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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.
 
 
 

 
 
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS 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 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.