As we conclude the 2023-24 Morgan State Athletics season, we embark on a journey through time to delve into the rich history of our athletic program. Over the coming weeks, we will delve into the archives to relive iconic game recaps and compelling stories that have shaped the legacy of Morgan Athletics.

Join us as we pay homage to the legends who have graced our fields, courts, and tracks. Let us celebrate the moments that have brought us joy, pride, and inspiration. And let us draw upon the lessons of the past to empower our student-athletes and teams to achieve even greater heights in the future.

Here's what was reported on November 24, 2009:
 

Classic Bear Recap: Holmes Leads Bears with 34 Points, Stun Arkansas, 97-94
Leonard Haynes, MSU Athletics Communications

Boxscore

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Morgan State's basketball program had never beaten an SEC opponent, until tonight.

Reggie Holmes scored a career-high 34 points, including a pair of free throws with 6.3 seconds remaining to lead Morgan State to a 97-94 upset victory against Arkansas on Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena before 7,468 fans. 

Prior to tonight, the first and only time the teams had squared-off against each other was on December 13, 1986, when Nolan Richardson's Razorbacks ended up dropping the Bears 106-57 in Fayetteville.

Rotnei Clarke missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the Razorbacks after hitting a pair of 3-pointers to keep the game within reach with 14.1 seconds and 6.5 seconds remaining. 

Clarke finished with a team-high 26 points. Mike Washington added 21 points and Marshawn Powell and Julysses Nobles scored 17 points each for the Razorbacks (2-2). 

Arkansas shot 57.1 percent (16-28 FG) in the first half, but halftime adjustments helped the Bears limit the Razorbacks to just 11 field goals in the second half, five of which were made during the closing 4 minutes of the contest.  

Morgan State (4-1) hit 34-of-41 (82.9 percent) free throws. Holmes sunk 13-of-15 from the line, including the final four from the stripe to help the Bears notch their 6th non-conference victory in 8 tries.  

"I'm proud of my guys it was a hard fought victory," said 4^th year MSU coach Todd Bozeman. " I thought in the first half we fouled a lot (16 fouls), and we just came off of a game where a team shot 41 free throws on us. It looked as though we were going in that direction, but they shot 45 and we ended up shooting 41."

Bozeman got strong performances by a number of his players. 

"We had a big lift from Joe Davis off the bench," Bozeman added.  "He transferred and sat out from Cleveland State and we have been waiting for him to have a breakthrough game. He has been kind of shaking the rust off and he stepped up for us tonight." Davis scored a season-high 18 points (8-8 FT), including two free throws that gave the Bears an 87-84 lead with 1:16 left to go.    

Arkansas outscored the Bears 38-30 inside the paint, however the Bears held a commanding 39-26 advantage on the boards and scored 20 points off of second chance opportunities. 

Sophomore Kevin Thompson, a 6-foot-8 Baltimore product, led the Bears in pounding the glass for a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with 10 points.  Freshman swingman DeWayne Jackson chipped in 8 of his 10 points in the second half.

Holmes, who entered the game off of a 9-point performance against #22 Louisville, exploded for 18 points in the first half to keep the Bears close. MSU trailed 53-46 at the halftime.

"I couldn't wait to play a game after the loss on Sunday to Louisville," said Holmes. " I only played 16 minutes, and I was upset that I fouled out and we lost that game. I knew that I can do better."

The Razorback loss snapped a 45-game winning streak at Bud Walton Arena against non-conference opponents. That was the second-longest streak in the nation.

"When you win right before Thanksgiving," explained Bozeman, " the turkey tastes a little bit better." 

"We're going to go back with the guys being extremely happy, and I'm proud of them because they really worked hard for it."

Bear Notes:
● The Bears lost by only nine points to Louisville in Freedom Hall just two days prior - the same Louisville team that drilled the Hogs by 30 on a neutral court.
● Senior guard Reggie Holmes and sophomore forward Kevin Thompson finished the season named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) First Team All-District. Freshman DeWayne Jackson was selected to the Second Team All-District. 
● The Bears also swept the top individual awards for the season in the MEAC. Reggie Holmes was named Player of the Year, Kevin Thompson earned Defensive Player of the Year and freshman DeWayne Jackson was selected as Rookie of the Year. Todd Bozeman also was named Coach of the Year for the third straight season.
● Kevin Thompson had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Morgan State claimed its second consecutive NCAA tournament berth by beating South Carolina State 68-61 on March, 10, 2010 at the LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.
● After winning the MEAC tournament for the second straight year, Morgan entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 15 seed against sixth-ranked West Virginia.




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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 126 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.