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Game 24
Opponent: Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (7-14, 2-5)
Date: Monday, January 10, 2024
Site: Hill Field House, Baltimore, Md.
Game Time: 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Series Record: MSU leads the series 57-42
Live Stream: here
Live Stats: here
Radio: Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN.com)
Coaches: MSU - Kevin Broadus (65-70, 5th yr) | MDES - Jason Crafton (41-70, 5th)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com | www.umeshawksports.com

SETTING THE STAGE
• The Morgan State University men's basketball team will end their season series with the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (7-14, 2-5) after a 12-day layoff. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. at Hill Field House. The game will be broadcast by the Heritage Radio Sports Network (HSRN.com) and streamed live on Morgan's athletics website.
The game will be broadcast by the Heritage Radio Sports Network (HSRN.com) and streamed live on NCCU's Athletics website.
• Will Thomas scored a game-high 23 points to lead five Bears in double-figures as they posted 79-72 overtime win over North Carolina Central on Feb. 5th at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
• 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 MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
• Jason Crafton completed his fourth season as the head coach of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team in 2022-23. The 2022-23 season was a historic one in many ways for Hawk Basketball. Crafton's squad finished 18-13, leading to the program's best win percentage (.581) in 50 years and the most wins in a season of Crafton's coaching career. Crafton guided the Hawks to a 10-3 record at William P. Hytche Athletic Center, the best home mark for the program since the 1973-74 season.
• MDES was picked to finish 5th in the MEAC Preseason Poll voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors. Defending MEAC champion Howard picked up 11 first-place votes in being named the preseason favorite, while the Spartans of Norfolk State were picked to finish second and received one first-place vote.
• The Hawks return six players from last year's roster and welcome seven new players to the program. Returners include, Toby Nnadozie, Chace Davis, Dionte Johnson, Damani Claxton, Victory Naboya and Troy Hupstead. Davis and Hupstead logged the most action of the six returners from last season.
• Chace Davis, a preseason All-MEAC Third Team selection, ranks No. 12 in the conference in 3-point field goals per game (1.2).

MDES by the Numbers
• 65.5: MDES is scoring by averaging 65.5 points per game.
• 12.9: The Hawks have been led by junior 6-7 forward Troy Hupstead who is averaging 12.9 points with 8.9 rebounds (ranks No. 1 in MEAC) and is shooting 42.4 percent from the field.
• 70.1: On average MDES is giving up just over 70 points per contest to opponents.
• 139: The Hawks have limited opponets to 139 threes so far this season and rank No. 2 in the MEAC in 3-point percentage defense (.323).

THE SERIES VS. MDES
• Saturday's contest will mark the 100th meeting between the schools ... The Bears lead the series 57-42.
•  Morgan State's last win against Maryland Eastern Shore was on February 27, 2023 --  Wynston Tabbs led the Bears with a game-high 20 points and connected on 4-of-7 3-pointers to go along with four boards and two steals in 28 minutes. Thomas scored 18 of his game-high 23 points (10-20 FG) in the first half. Da'Shawn Phillip led the Hawks with 17 points (6-14 FG), five rebounds, four assists and four steals in 35 minutes. Morgan salted the game away from the free throw line where they went 4-for-6 in the final 60 seconds. 
• Maryland Eastern Shore's last win against Morgan was on January 6, 2024 --  Despite an up-and-down battle all afternoon, Morgan State blew a late lead and fell to Maryland Eastern Shore by a score of 75-74 at the Hytche Athletic Center. Troy Hupstead, a 6-foot-7 junior forward from Mount Vernon, N.Y., paced the Hawks with 14 points (5-14 FG) and finished with a game-high 13 rebounds. He also added three assists. Wynston Tabbs led the Bears with a game-high 20 points and connected on 4-of-7 3-pointers to go along with four boards and two steals in 28 minutes. Kamron Hobbs added 16 points (4-5 3FG) and had four rebounds, two assists and a block in 30 minutes. Malang Athian scored on a tip-in to trim the lead to 74-73 and Hupstead grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled on a putback with 2 seconds left to go with a chance to take the lead from the stripe…he toed the line and hit both free throws.

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BEARS
RALEIGH, N.C. -  Will Thomas had a game-high 23 points to lead five Bears in double-figures as they posted 79-72 overtime win over North Carolina Central on Monday night at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
• Redshirt-junior Will Thomas, fresh off a career-high 28 point night at South Carolina State, finished with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting from the field in 40 minutes. He also had nine rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. 
• Amahrie Simpkins finished with 15 points (6-14 FG) with six rebounds and two steals. Kamron Hobbs scored 14 points and connected on 5-of-12 shots, including three 3-pointers and had seven rebounds and six assists. 
• Allen Udemadu collected his fifth double-double of the season as he finished with 10 points (5-11 FG) and was tenacious on the glass with 14 rebounds to go along with two blocks.  
• Morgan connected on 41.6 percent (32-77) of their shots from the field and was 7 of 21 from behind the arc, while the Eagles shot 40 percent from the field and connected on 7 of 20 (.350) 3-pointers. Morgan shot .667 (8-12) from the free throw line, compared to the Eagles' .550 percent (11-20).
•  Hobbs buried a deep step-back 3-pointer in front of the Bears bench, followed a possession later by a 3-point dagger by Thomas to extend the lead to 77-71. Lawson hit two free throws in the finals seconds and  at the end of the game and the Eagles hit a free throw to make the final score 77-72.

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 is 5-3 at home so far this season.
• 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.

LINE DANCING
The Bears' returning team includes nine players who shot 70 percent or better from the free throw line this season.
• Morgan has converted 73.3 percent (280-382; ranks No. 4 in MEAC) from the stripe thru 23 games.
• Wynston Tabbs is shooting a league-best 87.5 percent (49-56), Will Thomas is shooting 85.5 percent (53-62) and Kamron Hobbs is shooting 77.1 percent (27-35) from the stripe to lead the Bears.
• 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 16.5 points, and ranks No. 2 in the MEAC in scoring, netting a career-high 38 points vs. UMBC on Dec. 26.  
• He is also shooting a league-best .875 from the free throw percentage, ranks No. 7 in field goal percentage (.409) and No. 4 in 3-pointers made per game (2.2 makes) from three-point range per game.
• Tabbs has made 37 of 97 three-point shots this season (38 percent).
• Tabbs returned to the floor against NJIT (Dec. 31) after missing the previous four games due to injury.
• He has scored in double figures 13 times, including seven games with 20 or more points.
• He was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Week as a result of scoring seven of his 25 points (7-12 FG) in overtime to lead the Bears to an 89-86 victory against Coppin State (Jan. 20). He also recorded four steals, three boards, and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
• Tabbs did not play at South Carolina State (Feb. 3) or N.C. Central (Feb. 5)  due to injury.

MIDRANGE MONSTER
Will Thomas and his mid range shooting has become a lethal trademark for the 6-foot-6 veteran wingman.
• Through 23 games, the Baltimore product is hitting his mid-rangers at a high clip and he's currently averaging 12.9 points a game with a nearly absurd shooting efficiency as he's converted 47.4 percent from the field.
• He has scored in double figures 14 times, including seven games with 20 or more points.
• Thomas scored a game and career-high 28 points on 9-of-19 shooting from the field in 32 minutes at South Carolina State (2/3). 
• Thomas has averaged 22.5 points per game over his last four games.

NON-CONFERENCE RECAP 
• Morgan recorded a 4-12 mark in non-conference play 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).

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.

  
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• 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 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.