BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 14, 2024)--Morgan State's Jael Butler and Ja'la Bannerman each scored a game-high 13 points and Michaela Bogans added 10, as the host Lady Bears defeated rival Towson, 64-63 in the opener of the 2025 Charm City Hoops Classic on Thursday evening at Hill Field House.
 
Morgan State (3-2) improved to 3-0 at home with the win and avenged last season's loss to the Tigers on the road in the inaugural Charm City Hoops Classic.
 
The Lady Bears nearly surrendered a nine-point advantage (60-51) after Butler knocked down two free throws with 4:08 to play in the game.
 
Towson (0-3), which closed out the game on a 12-4 run, scored the next seven points to pull within, 60-58, following a free throw by Deja Bristol with 1:04 to play.
 
Bogans hit the backend of two free throws to end Towson's run and give the hosts a 61-58 lead, before Semaya Turner scored on a fastbreak layup to make it a 61-60 contest with 25 seconds remaining.
 
Bannerman connected on two free throws and Tamaria Rumph hit one of two at the line to increase Morgan's lead to 64-60 with seven seconds remaining.
 
Towson would not go away, as Shariah Baynes hit a deep uncontested three-pointer on a fastbreak to cut the deficit to 64-63 with 1.7 seconds left in the game. Morgan State then turned the ball over on the inbound, as Bogans was called for traveling, giving Towson one final shot to steal the victory away from Morgan.
 
The Tiger's Jordan Wakefield would get open on the right side of the basket and fortunately for Morgan State would miss the layup, as the Lady Bears escaped with the 64-63 victory.
 
Baynes and Bristol each scored a team-high 12 points to lead Towson in the loss. Khady Leye pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and was one of four Tigers to score nine points.
 
Both teams shot 50 percent from the line as Morgan State connected on 12-of-24 from the charity stripe and Towson shot 15-of-30 at the line.
 
The Lady Bears will take on another rival when they visit UMBC to conclude the Charm City Hoops Classic on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m.
 
 
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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.