BALTIMORE, Md. (November 6, 2024) -- Wednesday evening, the Morgan State Bears faced off against Mercyhurst University in a gripping non-conference matchup. It was a closely contested showdown at Hill Field House that kept fans on the edge of their seats right until the final buzzer. The game concluded with a heartbreakingly close score of 78-73 in favor of Mercyhurst.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, as both teams exchanged leads multiple times. The Bears showcased their dynamic offense, led by key contributions from senior Wynston Tabbs, who scored on a pullup jumper to give the Bears a 28-21 advantage with just over five minutes left in the half. The Lakers, however, quickly regrouped and responded with a swift 12-3 run and managed to take a 33-31 lead into the intermission.
As the second half unfolded, the game transformed into a fierce battle, with both teams stepping up their physical play. The Lakers were leading 47-44 with just under 13 minutes remaining before the simmering emotions boiled over and an intense confrontation erupted between Morgan's Tytan Newton and Mercyhurst's Charles McClennhan Jr. and Mykolaus Ivanauskas. The referees, seeing the situation spiral out of control, swiftly issued double technical fouls, resulting in the ejection of all three players. With key players now sidelined, both teams had to adjust their strategies, making the remainder of the game even more unpredictable and charged with emotion.
Morgan scored on a tip-dunk by Kiran Oliver,  pushing the Bears ahead 48-47 with under 12 minutes remaining in the game. Â
However, Mercyhurst wasn't about to let their lead slip away that easily. The Lakers used a 13-3 run over the next four minutes and a 3-pointer by Shemar Rathan Mayes extended Mercyhurst's lead to 60-51.
The Bears found themselves trailing 63-57, before a pair of free throws by Marland Harris helped spark a 10-0 run by the Bears. Tabbs sank a 3-pointer and followed it up with a fastbreak layup to tie the game at 67-67 with just under four minutes on the clock.
In a nail-biting finish, Morgan scored on a fastbreak to help retake the lead for the Bears at 71-69 with just 1:30 left on the clock. The momentum seemed to shift back and forth like a pendulum, and with only 56 seconds on the clock, a pivotal moment emerged. Oliver's mishandled pass culminated in a costly turnover for the Bears. Seizing the opportunity, Planutis found himself wide open beyond the arc and decisively sank a three-pointer, propelling the Lakers ahead 74-71. The Bears fought valiantly to regain their footing, but the Lakers sealed the game with composure in the closing seconds.Â
Aidan Reichert scored 15 points and added six rebounds. Bernie Blunt had 12 points and shot 1 of 4 from the field and 10 for 10 from the line. Ivanauskas also contributed seven rebounds for the Lakers (1-1).Â
The Bears (1-1) were led in scoring by Wynston Tabbs, who finished with 15 points. Morgan got 14 points and two steals from Will Thomas and 11 points from Rob Lawson.
The Bears held a 35-31 advantage on the boards and held a 33-26 advantage in bench scoring. The teams played to a stalemate inside the paint where they each scored 36 points.Â
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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.
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