OPENING TIP

• Redshirt-junior Will Thomas scored 17 of his career-high 28 points in the second half. He shot 9-of-19 from the field in 32 minutes. He also had five rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.
• Junior guard Ahahrie Simpkins finished with 13 points points (6-10 FG) and led the Bears with nine rebounds -- he was the only other Bear to score double figures. 
• Allen Udemadu added nine points and five boards, while Rob Lawson and Kamron Hobbs chipped in eight points apiece.
• Michael Teal paced the Bulldogs with a 15 points (4-6 FG) and converted 7-of-8 free throws.
• Mitchell Taylor finished with nine points, while Davion Everett, RaQuan Brown and Jordan Simpson scored eight points each. 
   

THE DIFFERENCE

• Morgan connected on 48 percent (27-56) of their shots from the field, but was held to 1-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs shot 41 percent from the field and connected on 4 of 13 (.308) 3-pointers. Morgan shot .739 (17-23) from the free throw line, compared to the Bulldogs' .593 percent (16-27).
• SCSU outrebounded the Bears by a 39-31 margin and the Bulldogs' bench outscored the Bears 29-6.
• SCSU closed out the half with a layup by Mitchell Taylor as part of an 8-3 spurt to push lead to 41-33 at the break.
• Following halftime, Dallas James finished with a dunk and Davion Everett scored on a layup to push the Bulldogs' lead to 45-35. But from that point forward the Bears' defense turned up. 
• Amahrie Simpkins scored on a fastbreak to help jumpstart a 12-3 run as the Bulldogs struggled and missed their next seven shots from the field. Will Thomas blocked a 3-pointer by Wilson Dubinsky that turned into a layup on the other end by Simpkins to trim the Bulldogs' lead to 48-47 with 12:26 remaining.
• Atiba Taylor buried two 3-pointers during a 12-4 run to help give the Bulldogs a 60-49 lead with 9:43 remaining.
• Will Thomas converted a 3-point play (9:07) as part of a 17-4 run by the Bears. Thomas hit back-to-back baskets to give the Bears a 66-64 lead with 3:44 remaining.
• The game was tied at 66, before Amahrie Simpkins scored off an assist from Kamron Hobbs to retake the lead 68-66 with 2:24 remaining. 
• Raquan Brown ended up scoring on a tip-in to tie the game at 70-70 with 8 seconds left to go, but Hobbs would end up hitting a running jumper with 3 seconds left to take a 72-70 lead and close the deal. 

NOTABLE

• Saturday's contest marked the 87th meeting between the schools ... The Bears lead the series 46-41.
• The win marked Morgan's third victory in the last four games.
• The Bears improved to a 2-10 road game record.
• Thomas' 28 points marked the sixth game he has scored 20 or more points this season.
• Junior guard Kamron Hobbs finished with a game-high five assists.