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Game 30
Opponent: Coppin State Eagles (2-25, 1-11)
Date: Thursday, March 7, 2024
Site: Hill Field House, Baltimore, Md.
Game Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Series Record: CSU leads the series 63-40
Live Stream: here
Live Stats: here
Radio: Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN.com)
Coaches: MSU - Kevin Broadus (67-74, 5th yr) | CSU - Larry Stewart (2-25, 1st)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com | www.coppinstatesports.com
SETTING THE STAGE
The Morgan State University men's basketball team will host the Coppin State Eagles on Thursday night. As the conference regular season draws to a close, the Bears will attempt to enter the MEAC Tournament on a 2-game win streak, while the Eagles have dropped their last 11 games. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Hill Field House. The game will be broadcast by the Heritage Radio Sports Network (HSRN.com) and streamed live on Morgan Athletics website.
• Will Thomas scored 24 of his career-high 30 points in the second half, Amahrie Simpkins had 20 points and eight rebounds, as the Bears recorded an 88-79 win over North Carolina Central on Monday night at Hill Field House.
• 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 COPPIN STATE
• Larry Stewart, was named the new Head Men's Basketball Coach on May 2, 2023. Stewart returned to his alma mater after spending 14 years as an assistant coach at three of the other Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Maryland. Stewart served as an assistant at Bowie State for six seasons (2009-15) with the last three as associate head coach, Morgan State (2015-19, 2022-23) and Maryland Eastern Shore (2019-21) with one season as associate head coach.
• Coppin State was picked to finish seventh in the league. CSU finished seventh in the conference last season with a 9-23 record and went 4-10 in conference play.
• Redshirt senior 6-8 guard Justin Winston (West Orange, N.J.) and 6-0 freshman guard Ryan Archey (Clinton, Md.) currently lead the Eagles in scoring. Winston, a transfer from Robert Morris, is averaging 13.8 points (No. 10 in MEAC), 5.4 rebounds (No. 9) and is shooting 41% from the field and 87.7% from the free throw line. Archey is averaging 9.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and is shooting 34.6 percent from the field. Junior 6-5 guard Greg Spurlock (Ashburn, Va.) is averaging 8.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and is shooting 37.6% from the field.
• March 4, 2024 - Ryan Archey led all players with 17 points while Greg Spurlock and Justin Winston added 12 points apiece as the Coppin State men's basketball team fell to South Carolina State, 61-58 on Monday night at PEC Arena. Coppin narrowly outshot the Bulldogs, 41.3% to 40.4%, but South Carolina State outrebounded the Eagles, 39-24 which translated into 15 second-chance points.
CSU by the Numbers
• 58.0: CSU is scoring by averaging 58.0 points per game.
• 13.8: The Eagles have been led by redshirt senior 6-8 forward Justin Winston who is averaging 13.8 points (ranks No. 10 in MEAC) with 5.4 rebounds (ranks No. 9) and is shooting 41 percent from the field and 87.7 percent from the free throw line (ranks No. 2).
• 72.6: On average CSU is giving up just over 70 points per contest to opponents.
• 2.81: The Eagles rank No. 4 in the MEAC in blocked shots (76).
THE SERIES VS. COPPIN STATE
• Thursday's contest will mark the 104th meeting between the schools ... The Eagles lead the series 63-40.
• Morgan's last win against Coppin State was on January 20, 2024 -- Wynston Tabbs and Will Thomas combined for 11 points in overtime to lead the Morgan to an 89-86 victory against Coppin State Saturday at PEC Arena. Tabbs scored seven of his 25 points (7-12 FG) in overtime. He also added four steals, three boards and converted 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Junior 6-foot-10 forward Allen Udemadu finished with a career-high 24 points on 7-for-8 shooting and connected on 10-of-12 free throws. He also led the Bears on the glass with seven boards and had two blocks before fouling out of the ballgame. Redshirt-junior Will Thomas added 17 points (7-14 FG) off the bench and recorded three steals in 27 minutes.
• Coppin State's last win against Morgan was on March 2, 2023 -- The Morgan State men's basketball team fell to the crosstown rival Coppin State Eagles, 77-65, at Hill Field House. Nendah Tarke led four Eagles in double-figures with a team-high 18 points (8-12) with five rebounds and three assists. Mike Hood finished with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. Sam Sessoms, the MEAC's leading scorer (21 ppg), added 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds and eight assists for the Eagles. Burke scored 12 of his team-high 20 points (9-9 FT) in the second half and played 26 minutes. Junior guard Kamron Hobbs finished with 12 points (4-6 FG) with four rebounds and a steal.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BEARS
BALTIMORE, Md. - Will Thomas scored 24 of his career-high 30 points in the second half, Amahrie Simpkins had 20 points and eight rebounds, as the Bears recorded an 88-79 win over North Carolina Central on Monday night at Hill Field House.
• Thomas, a redshirt-junior from Baltimore, finished with a game and career-high 30 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field and was 12-of-14 from the free throw line in 31 minutes. He also had six rebounds and two assists.
• Amahrie Simpkins finished with a season-high 20 points (7-8 FG) with eight rebounds, three steals and a block. Kamron Hobbs scored 16 points and connected on 6-of-13 shots, including eight rebounds and two assists.
• Junior 6-foot-10 forward Allen Udemadu collected his sixth double-double of the season as he finished with 10 points (5-8 FG) and ripped down10 rebounds in 35 minutes.
• Morgan connected on 50 percent (32-63) of their shots from the field and shot 3-of-14 from 3-point territory. Meanwhile, the Eagles shot 44 percent from the field and connected on 9 of 28 3-pointers.
• The Bears held a commanding 43-29 advantage on the boards, including a 16-13 advantage on the offensive glass.
• Amahrie Simpkins was able to score off an assist by Thomas, giving the Bears a boost and setting the tone for the rest of the half. The Bears went on a 17-4 run. With just under 14 minutes remaining in the game, Thomas hit his second jumper of the half, extending the Bears' lead to 52-41.
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 7-5 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 76.2 percent (397-521; ranks No. 1 in MEAC) from the stripe thru 29 games.
• Wynston Tabbs is shooting a league-best 88.7 percent (63-71), Will Thomas is shooting 85.6 percent (77-90) and Kamron Hobbs is shooting 80.4 percent (45-56) 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 15.2 points, and ranks No. 6 in the MEAC in scoring, netting a career-high 38 points vs. UMBC on Dec. 26.
• He is also shooting a league-best .883 from the free throw percentage, ranks No. 7 in field goal percentage (.399) and No. 5 in 3-pointers made per game (1.9 makes) from three-point range per game.
• Tabbs has made 44 of 128 three-point shots this season (34 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 17 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.
MIDRANGE MONSTER
Will Thomas and his mid range shooting has become a lethal trademark for the 6-foot-6 veteran wingman.
• Through 28 games, the Baltimore product is hitting his mid-rangers at a high clip and he's currently averaging 13.2 points a game with a nearly absurd shooting efficiency as he's converted 47 percent from the field.
• He has scored in double figures 18 times, including eight games with 20 or more points.
• Thomas scored a career-high 30 points on an efficient 9-of-17 shooting from the field in 31 minutes to lead Morgan past North Carolina Central (3/4). He also had six rebounds and two assists.
LOOKING AHEAD
The MEAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament will be taking place from March 13-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va. For more information on the MEAC Division I Basketball Tournament and the accompanying events, please visit www.MEAChoops.com.
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).
AT THE HELM
• Kevin Broadus is entering his fifth season at the helm of the program after being named as the men's head basketball coach in 2019.
• The Broadus-led Bears team has compiled several significant victories over non-conference competition, elevating the caliber of wins for a program that aims to compete at a championship level within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Broadus demonstrated exemplary leadership while successfully overcoming a number of challenges at the onset of his tenure at Morgan, including having to navigate rebuilding a program under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This past season, Morgan finished with a record of 15-16 overall, and went 7-7 in MEAC play. In 2021-22, the Bears went 13-15 overall, and placed fourth in the MEAC standings with a 7-6 record while advancing to the MEAC Tournament semifinals game. Morgan advanced to the MEAC Tournament championship game in 2021.
• Prior to Morgan, Broadus worked at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he has been one of the nation's best recruiters as the top assistant on Mark Turgeon's coaching staff. Broadus was influential in the successful NCAA tournament run for the Terps.
• Consistently ranked in the top 20 nationally for recruiting, Broadus was instrumental in signing a number of local Baltimore talents such as DeJuan Summers, Brandon Herbert, LaFonta Johnson, and Henry Sims.
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.
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 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.
