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Game 16
Opponent: NJIT (3-8)
Date: Sunday, December 31, 2023
Site: Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center, Newark, N.J.
Game Time: 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: www.njithighlanders.com
Radio: Heritage Sports Radion Network (HSRN)
Coaches: MSU - Kevin Broadus (61-65, 5th yr) | NJIT - Grant Billmeier (3-8, 1st)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com | www.vnjithighlanders.com
SETTING THE STAGE
• The Morgan State University men's basketball team is prepared to wrap up non-conference action when they take on the NJIT Highlanders in Newark on Sunday, Dec. 31. The matchup tips off at Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center at 4:30 p.m. (EST). The game will be carried live on ESPN+ and broadcast by the Heritage Radio Sports Network (HSRN.com).
• Rob Lawson (14 pts) and Kamron Hobbs (13 pts) paced the Bears as they fell to Virginia, 79-44, Wednesday (Dec. 27). NJIT (3-8) defeated Medgar Evers127-51 in non-conference action last Friday (Dec. 22). Adam Hess set a new program record with 10 three-pointers and finished with a career-high 32 points to lead the Highlanders.
• Redshirt junior guard Kamron Hobbs and redshirt junior forward Will Thomas were named to the preseason All-MEAC second team. Last season, Hobbs started in 16 of 31 games played and averaged 28.1 minutes. He averaged 8.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and shot 44.7 percent from the field and 45 percent (45-100) from 3-point territory. Hobbs also averaged 2.7 assists (ranked No. 10 in MEAC) and 1.4 steals. He scored in double-figures 13 times, including a season-high 24 points versus Delaware State (Feb. 4). Thomas started in 8 of 29 games played last season and averaged 8.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and shot 43.4 percent from the field and 34 percent (16-47) from 3-point territory. He scored in double-figures 10 times, scored 20 or more points five times, and poured in a season-high 27 points (11-22 FG) and grabbed 11 rebounds versus Norfolk State (Jan. 23).
• Several newcomers could make an impact for the Bears this season. Morgan added guard Wynston Tabbs from East Carolina, guard Kiran Oliver from New Mexico State, and forward Myles Thompson from Saint Francis (Pa.) via the transfer portal.
• Morgan's roster includes three freshman, three sophomores, seven juniors, and three seniors.
SCOUTING NJIT
• Grant Billmeier was named the 12th Head Coach in NJIT Men's Basketball history in April, 2023. Billmeier came to Newark after one season on the staff at Maryland, where he followed Kevin Willard from Seton Hall in April 2022. The Terrapins were 22-13 in 2022-23, and finished 16-1 at home and 11-9 in Big Ten play earning an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament where they defeated West Virginia in the first round, before bowing out to Alabama, the top overall seed.
• NJIT was picked to finish 9th (last) in the America East Preseason Poll voted on by the league's nine head coaches. Vermont won their fourth #AEHoops Championship in the past five seasons a year ago and have been picked atop the 2023-24 America East Men's Basketball Preseason Poll.
• Head Coach Grant Billmeier's first recruiting class included 11 newcomers to the roster. Two of the newcomers, Elijah Buchanan and Daniel Schreier, are graduate transfers from Manhattan College, where they each spent the last five years alongside new NJIT Assistant Coach RaShawn Stores.
• New Jersey Institute of Technology is the second-highest ranked public university in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2024 list of the Best Colleges in the U.S.
• The Highlanders enter Sunday's contest with an 3-8 record to start the season.
• Dec. 22, 2023 - Adam Hess set a new program record with 10 three-pointers and finished with a career-high 32 points as the NJIT rolled to a dominating 127-51 victory over visiting Medgar Evers in non-conference action at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center (WEC).
NJIT by the Numbers
• 72.4: NJIT is scoring by averaging 72.4 points per game.
• 13.0: The Highlanders have four players averaging double-figures led by Adam Hess averaging 13 points with 4.8 rebounds and is shooting 44.7 percent from beyond the arc.
• 77.8: On average NJIT is giving up just under 80 points per contest to opponents.
• 96: The Highlanders have made 96 threes so far this season where they are shooting 34 percent...NJIT ranks No. 4 in the America East conference averaging 8.7 threes per contest.
• 11.4: NJIT ranks No. 3 in the conference in offensive rebounding (11.4 avg).
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BEARS
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia's smothering defense proved to be too much for the Morgan State men's basketball team as it fell 79-44. The Bears drop to 4-11 on the season, while the Cavaliers improved to 10-2.
• Reece Beekman, who was named to the 2024 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top-50 Watch List, was just shy of a double-double for the Cavaliers as he finished with a game-high 17 points 4-of-8 shooting with five rebounds and three assists.
• Sophomore 6-8 forward Ryan Dunn scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 10 boards in 24 minutes. Graduate student 6-9 forward Jake Groves chipped in 10 points (3-4 3FG), while graduate student Leon Bond III added 10 points and seven boards off the bench.
• Sophomore Rob Lawson led the Bears with 14 points and 4 assists in 37 minutes, while redshirt-junior Kamron Hobbs scored 13 points (5-11 FG) in 36 minutes.
• Virginia connected on 47 percent (32-68) of their shots from the field and 43 percent from behind the arc, while the Bears shot 34 percent from the field and connected on 5 of 12 (.420) 3-pointers.
HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
• Morgan scored 100 points in their home-opener vs. Cheney University of Pa. (11/9/23).
• Morgan scored 100 or more points twice during the 2022-23 season and a season-high 120 point explosion vs. Virginia-Lynchburg (Dec. 9).
• The Bears recorded 130 points in the home-opener vs. Penn State Allegheny (11/11/22).
• Morgan registered 123 points in a home win vs. Virginia-Lynchburg (11/29/22).
HOME COOKING
• Morgan completed the 2022-23 regular season 10-2 at home.
• The Bears had an 11-game home winning streak snapped by UMES on Jan. 30.
• Morgan completed the 2021-22 season with an 8-3 mark inside Hill Field House.
• The last time the Bears lost at home was against North Carolina Central (74-64) ... their previous loss was on Jan. 23, 2022 against Howard (91-82) on Jan. 23, 2022.
• Morgan is 4-2 at home so far this season.
LINE DANCING
The Bears' returning team includes four players who shot 70 percent or better from the free throw line this season.
• Morgan has converted 70.3 percent (145-204; ranks No. 5 in MEAC) from the stripe thru 15 games.
• Wynston Tabbs is shooting 83 percent (25-30; No. 6 in MEAC) and Kamron Hobbs is currently shooting 78.3 percent (18-23) from the stripe to lead the Bears ... Will Thomas is shooting 78 percent (25-32).
• Last season, Morgan shot 68.8 percent (391-558; ranked No. 6 in MEAC) from the stripe, led by Kamron Hobbs who shot 80.6 percent (29-36) and Will Thomas 78.6 percent (33-42).
TABBS SHOOTING TO THE TOP
Redshirt senior guard Wynston Tabbs is averaging 16.4 points, and ranks No. 4 in the MEAC in scoring, netting a career-high 38 points vs. UMBC on Dec. 26.
• He is also No. 5 in free throw percentage (.833), No. 7 in field goal percentage (.427) and No. 8 in 3-pointers made per game (1.7 makes) from three-point range per game, he hit a career-high 6 vs. UMBC.
• Tabbs has made 18 of 52 three-point shots this season (34.6 percent).
• Tabbs has missed the last four games due to injury.
HOBBS DISHING OUT DIMES
Redshirt junior Kamron Hobbs ranks T-No. 67 in the nation with 58 assists in 15 games … he currently ranks No. 4 in the MEAC averaging 3.9 assists per game .
• He set a new Morgan State record by dishing out 15 assists vs. Virginia-Lynchburg (Dec. 9) … the previous record was 14 held by Jerrell Green versus Coppin State on Dec. 7, 2006.
NON-CONFERENCE RECAP
• Morgan is off to a 4-11 record in non-conference play so far this season.
• The Bears registered a 8-9 record in their non- conference slate of games during the 2022-23 season (Feb. 4 vs. Delaware State was officially logged as a non-conference contest).
AT THE HELM
• Kevin Broadus is entering his fifth season at the helm of the program after being named as the men's head basketball coach in 2019.
• The Broadus-led Bears team has compiled several significant victories over non-conference competition, elevating the caliber of wins for a program that aims to compete at a championship level within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Broadus demonstrated exemplary leadership while successfully overcoming a number of challenges at the onset of his tenure at Morgan, including having to navigate rebuilding a program under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This past season, Morgan finished with a record of 15-16 overall, and went 7-7 in MEAC play. In 2021-22, the Bears went 13-15 overall, and placed fourth in the MEAC standings with a 7-6 record while advancing to the MEAC Tournament semifinals game. Morgan advanced to the MEAC Tournament championship game in 2021.
• Prior to Morgan, Broadus worked at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he has been one of the nation's best recruiters as the top assistant on Mark Turgeon's coaching staff. Broadus was influential in the successful NCAA tournament run for the Terps.
• Consistently ranked in the top 20 nationally for recruiting, Broadus was instrumental in signing a number of local Baltimore talents such as DeJuan Summers, Brandon Herbert, LaFonta Johnson, and Henry Sims.
WHO'S OUT
• Malik Miller (Washington, D.C.), Khalil Turner (Philadelphia, Pa.), Isaiah Burke (Bowie, Md.), Daiquan Copeland (Philadelphia, Pa.), Lewis Djonkam(Springfield, Va.), Toto Fagbenle (London, England), Collin Nnamene (Enugu State, Nigeria), David McCullough (Bowie, Md.) and Ty Horner (Sisters, Ore.) wrapped up their Morgan careers last spring.
WHO'S BACK
The Bears return one starter from last year's team, bringing back guard Kamron Hobbs. MSU also returns forward Will Thomas along with guards Rob Lawson and Kevon Wiggins.
WHO'S IN
The Bears have added several newcomers to the 2023-24 roster: G Wynston Tabbs, G Demajion Topps, F Myles Thompson, G Kiran Oliver, G Amahrie Simpkins, F Daniel Akiotoby, F Trent Edwards, G Marvin Brimage, F Christian Oliver, G Tytan Newton, F Allen Udemadu, and G Xavier Valley.
RETURNING PRODUCTION NUMBERS
Morgan State returns 30.2 percent of its scoring, 24.5 percent of its rebounding and 34.3 percent of its minutes played totals from last year's team. The team leaders in field goal percentage (Kamron Hobbs - .447), three-point percentage (Hobbs, .450), free throw percentage (Hobbs, .806), rebounding (Kyle Thomas - 3.9 rpg), assists (Hobbs, 2.7), steals (Hobbs, 1.4), blocked shots (Thomas, 0.2). and minutes played (Hobbs, 28.1). Two (2) players who started in at least five (5) games a year ago.
HOME GROWN
Morgan State has six (6) players from the DMV (D.C., Maryland & Metropolitan-D.C.) area. Redshirt junior forward Will Thomas is from Baltimore and was a prep standout at Mervo HS, while sophomore guard Rob Lawson is from Capitol Heights and played at National Christian Academy, and freshman guard Staccardo Washington played at Dr. Henry A. Wise HS and is from Upper Marlboro. East Carolina transfer Wynston Tabbs hails from Suitland and played at St. Mary's Ryken School. Freshman guard Marvin Brimage is from Washington, D.C. and played at Jackson-Reed HS. Santa Monica College transfer Daniel Akitoby is a product of Fairfax, Va. and played at Falls Church HS.
THE SCHEDULE
The Bears won't ease into the season, opening the schedule Nov. 6 at Arizona. Another trip west comes later in the month with trips to Fresno State (Nov. 15) and Brigham Young (Nov. 18). Another high-profile game comes Dec. 27 with a visit to Virginia.
• "We're going to be battle tested," Broadus says. "The key is, we just have to be healthy, we have to be smart, we have to learn how to play together through adversity. I think once we do that, we're going to be really good."
• The home opener is Nov. 9 against Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Among the other highlights will be local foe UMBC visiting Hill Field House on Dec. 6, and James Madison making the trip to Morgan for a pre-Christmas matinee on Dec. 22.
• The Bears' MEAC opener is Jan. 6 at Maryland-Eastern Shore, followed two days later by a visit from Delaware State. The regular season ends with a four-game homestand, capped by a Senior Day showdown against crosstown rival Coppin State on March 7.
• "We just have to put it together," Broadus says. "I like what we've got. I think we have a good nucleus and I like how we're doing things."
PREDICTED TO FINISH FOURTH IN THE MEAC
The Morgan State men's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's preseason poll.
• The 2023-24 Bears earned 72 total points in the voting. Howard claimed 11 first place votes and 107 points total as the defending MEAC champions. Norfolk State (96 pts) was selected second, followed by North Carolina Central in third place (79 pts). Maryland Eastern Shore (55 pts), Delaware State (39 pts), Coppin State (30 pts) and South Carolina State (26 pts) rounded out the league's predicted order of finish.
• Redshirt junior guard Kamron Hobbs and redshirt junior forward Will Thomas were named to the preseason All-MEAC second team.
• The 2024 MEAC Basketball Tournament will be held March 13-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.
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, Jr. 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.
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
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 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.
