BALTIMORE, Md. — Morgan State men's basketball recently completed a 9-day foreign tour through Belgium and France.
The Bears spent four nights in Belgium and wrapped up three nights in France before returning to the United States on Saturday, Aug. 19. Fans were able to follow along throughout the tour through morganstatebears.com, along with the Morgan men's basketball Instagram page and Morgan athletics' twitter for daily updates and content.
The following is a recap of the team's full itinerary.
Day 1 - Arrival in Amsterdam | August 11
The Bears traveled by bus to Philadelphia Airport where they boarded for a flight to Amsterdam. The Bears landed at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol around 8 a.m. local time on Saturday.
Day 2 - Arrival in Mechelen, Touring & Practice
From the airport, the team was welcomed to Europe by their guide traveled by bus to Mechelen, Belgium. The team checked into the Van Der Valk Hotel and and was given a brief tour of the city before checking into rooms. The Bears got in a practice session before wrapping up the day with a team meal.
Day 3 - Touring Bruges & Exhibition Game 1
The Bears got out to an early start on Sunday morning. After breakfast, the team departed at 10 a.m. for a day trip to Bruges. There, Morgan strolled around town learning about how - "The graceful small city of Bruges (Brugge) has drifted down the stream of time with all the self-possession of the swans that cruise its canals. To step into the old town is to be transported instantly back to the Middle Ages, when Bruges was among the wealthiest cities in Europe."
The Bears prepared for the first exhibition game of the tour that tipped off at 12 p.m. The Bears earned a 87-75 victory against the Konitich Wolves. Following the game, the Bears shared a lunch with the host team and then strolled around the city of Bruges.
Day 4 - Touring Antwerp & Exhibition Game 2
The Bears departed their hotel in Mechelen after breakfast for another day of sightseeing and leisure. The Bears traveled to the city of Antwerp which is a major destination of Belgium in the region of Flanders. The team learned how Antwerp is renowned for being the "world's leading diamond city", more than 70% of all diamonds are traded in Antwerp. The team took in some sights before heading back to the hotel to regroup ahead of the team's second exhibition game.
The Bears earned a wire-to-wire 83-68 victory over Gembo in the second exhibition game of the trip.
Day 5 - Touring Brussels & Exhibition Game 3
The team boarded the bus after breakfast and departed for sightseeing and shopping in Brussels, the capitol of Belgium. The team visited Old Town and the Grand Place, which was built for the 1954 World's Fair, Palais (The Royal Palace) and the famous Manneken Pis Statue. Brussels is quickly gaining a reputation as one of Europe's must- see destinations, with its small-town charm, trendy bars and restaurants, fabulous food, great nightlife, fantastic shopping, numerous museums, and other attractions, including the diverse and interesting exhibitions and festivals organized there every year. The group learned that the city of Brussels is a center for fashion, art, and Belgian culture, before heading back to the hotel to regroup ahead of the team's third exhibition game.
The Bears pulled away with a 91-85 victory against Waregem in the third exhibition game of the tour.
Day 6 - Exhibition Game 4 & Arrival in Paris
The Bears traveled to Charleroi, Belgium where they dropped Charleroi 83-72 in their fourth and final exhibition game of the tour. Following the game, the Bears arrived in Paris, France after a 4-hour bus ride. Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historic associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food, and design, dubbed the City of Light (la Ville Lumière) and Capital of Fashion. After arriving and checking into the Moxy Hotel, the group had the rest of the evening to themselves.
Day 7 - Touring Paris & Boat Tour on The Seine
The Bears left their hotel after breakfast to explore for more of the 'City of Love". The Bears took a boat cruise on the Seine to see the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, and Moulin Rouge, some of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Day 8 - Touring Paris & Notre-Dame Cathedral, Moulin Rouge
The Bears had breakfast and then departed for more sightseeing, including a visit to the tallest structure in Paris - The Eiffel Tower. After arriving back to the hotel, the group had the rest of the evening to themselves.
Day 9 - Returning to Baltimore
The Bears boarded the bus at 10 a.m. to be taken to the airport for their trans-Atlantic flight back home. After landing in Philadelphia, the team boarded the bus and arrived back to East Cold Spring later that evening with many unforgettable memories and heightened expectations for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
EDUCATION, GOODWILL AND SPORTSMANSHIP THROUGH SPORTS
Global Sports Academy is a non-profit organization created to arrange athletic competition between equally matched teams at all levels. To "Promote International Goodwill" and a better understanding between nations through sports is out major goal. With Global Sports Academy you will experience the thrill of international sports competition, attend cultural events, and see the historical sites of the world. Global Sports Academy has been participating in domestic and international competition since 1991.
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.
