SETTING THE STAGE
• The atmosphere at Hill Field House is expected to be electric this Saturday as the Morgan State prepares to face off against their Beltway rivals, the Howard Bison. With a strong 10-3 record on their home court, the Bears are eager to defend their territory and give their loyal fans a victory. However, the Bison are riding a wave of momentum, having won three of their last four games. Tip-off set for 4 p.m. and fans unable to attend in person can catch all the action live on ESPN+.

• Morgan rallied at North Carolina Central on Monday, overcoming a 13-point deficit to secure a dominant 92-78 win. The dynamic duo of Kameron Hobbs and Will Thomas combined for 47 points to take down the Eagles.

• Freshman standout Blake Harper poured in a game-high 34 points while Marcus Dockery added 15 points as Howard rolled to an 86-62 win over Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in Washington, D.C.

• Graduate student Wynston Tabbs and redshirt senior forward Will Thomas were named to the preseason All-MEAC first team. In addition, redshirt senior Kameron Hobbs has been named to the preseason All-MEAC Third Team. Tabbs started in 19 of 24 games and earned All-MEAC Second Team honors. He averaged 14.8 points and finished the regular season ranked No. 6 in the MEAC in scoring, including a career-high 38 points versus UMBC on Dec. 26. Thomas started in 24 of 30 games and finished the 2023-24 season as an All-MEAC Second Team selection. He averaged 14.0 points a game with a nearly absurd shooting efficiency as he's converted 47 percent from the field (ranked No. 2). Hobbs had an impressive season, starting in 27 of the 31 games he played and showcasing his skills on the court for an average of 31.0 minutes per game. His scoring ability was evident as he averaged 10.1 points per game, while his 35 percent from beyond the arc (47-133). 

• MSU returns veteran guards Rob Lawson (8.9 ppg), and Amahrie Simpkins (8.7 ppg)  from the starting lineup and added several newcomers including guard Pierce Shirk from Georgia Southern, guard forward Jayden Socka from Prince George's C.C., forward Marland Harris from West Los Angeles College, and forward Logan Schayes from Beacon College via the transfer portal. 
 

SCOUTING HOWARD
• Head coach Kenneth Blakeney enters his sixth season leading the Howard men's basketball program in 2019-20. He has coached at seven Division I universities over a 12-year span. Blakeney was a McDonalds All- American and Gatorade Player of the Year at the famed DeMatha Catholic HS, and played at Duke under head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

• The Bison were picked to finish first in the MEAC Preseason Poll, finished the regular season with a 18-17 overall record (9-5 MEAC) and , won the conference tournament and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. Senior guard Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) was selected MEAC Preseason Player of the Year. The BOXTOROW HBCU All-American also made the Preseason All-MEAC First Team after ranking among the league leaders in several categories a year ago. Marcus Dockery (Washington) secured a spot on the Preseason All-MEAC Second Team.  

• Freshman standout forward Blake Harper (Washington, D.C.) and Marcus Dockery (Washington, D.C.) currently lead the Bison in scoring. Harper is averaging 19.5 points (No. 1 in MEAC), 6.6 rebounds (No. 2) and is shooting a league-best 46% from the field (No. 5) and 82% from the free throw line (No. 4). Dockery, a senior guard, is averaging 17.2 points (No. 4), 2.6 rebounds and is shooting 51 percent from the field and 42 percent from three. 6-foot-4 guard Anwar Gill (Washington, D.C.) is chipping in 8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and is shooting 49 percent from the field.

•  Blake Harper poured in a game-high 34 points while fellow D.C. native Marcus Dockery added 15 points as Howard rolled to an 86-62 win over Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) at Burr Gymnasium. Earlier during the day, Harper was named MEAC Rookie of the Week for an unprecedented 15th time this season.

HU by the Numbers
• 78.3: Howard currently ranks No. 4 in the MEAC in scoring.

• 19.5: The Bison have been led by Blake Harper who leads the MEAC in scoring.

• 4.0:  Anwar Gill leads Howard in assists (ranks No. 2 in the MEAC).

• 79.3: On average Howard is giving up just under 80 points per contest to opponents (ranks No. 6).

• .389: Howard ranks No. 1 in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage.

• .481: Howard ranks No. 3 in the MEAC in field goal percentage.

• 16.8: Howard ranks No. 1 in the MEAC in assists.

THE SERIES VS. THE BISON
• MSU leads the series 67-53

• Howard won the last meeting between the teams on March 11, 2025 -- Marcus Dockery and Blake Harper combined for 48 points to lead the Howard Bison men's basketball team to an 100-95 victory against Beltway rival Morgan State at Burr Gymnasium. Howard's freshman standout Blake Harper filled the statsheet with 23 points (7-12 FG), seven rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes. Anwar Gill added 14 points and six assists in 38 minutes. The Bears had four players in double-figures. Kameron Hobbs and Will Thomas recorded 24 points apiece. Hobbs was 4-for-9 from beyond the arc and Thomas shot 40 percent (8-20 FG) from the floor and grabbed five boards, three assists and three steals.

• Morgan's last win against Howard was on January 27, 2024 -- Wynston Tabbs and Will Thomas combined for 44 points to lead the Morgan State men's basketball team to an 85-79 victory against Beltway rival Howard at Hill Field House. Thomas scored a game-high 24 points on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting from the field in 33 minutes. He also had five rebounds and a blocked shot. Tabbs scored 10 of his 20 points (4-9 3FG) in the closing moments to seal the Bears victory. Morgan connected on 54.4 percent of their shots from the field and was 6 of 19 from behind the arc, while the Bison shot 51 percent from the field and connected on 6 of 20 (.300) 3-pointers.

LAST TIME OUT 
DURHAM, N.C. (Feb. 17, 2025) - Morgan State rallied against North Carolina Central, overcoming a 13-point deficit to secure a dominant 92-78 win. The Bears' offensive firepower was on full display, spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Kameron Hobbs and Will Thomas, who combined for an impressive 47 points to take down the Eagles inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.

• Kameron Hobbs led the Bears with a game-high 24 points and shot an efficient 9-for-16 from the field, including 5-for-5 from the free throw line...He also had a game-high eight assists with two steals in 37 minutes. 

• Will Thomas recorded 23 points (8-14 FG) and was 4-for-4 from the stripe in 23 minutes. Rob Lawson added 12 points (3-6 FG) with four assists. Daniel Akitoby recorded his sixth double-double of the season by registering 14 points and 11 rebounds to go along with a game-high three blocked shots. 

• Morgan State shot 57 percent (35-61) from the field, including 33 percent (5-15) from 3-point territory. The Eagles shot  42 percent (27-64) from the floor and was 11-for-29 from behind the arc.

THE SCHEDULE
• Morgan State opens the season at home Nov. 4 against Division II Frostburg State, with Division I newcomer Mercyhurst visiting Hill Field House two days later. The Bears will play seven of their first 11 games at home, including a Nov. 24 date with local rival Towson.

• December brings trips to three power conference opponents: Xavier (Dec. 10), Iowa State (Dec. 22) and Minnesota (Dec. 29). The Bears open MEAC play Jan. 4 at home against South Carolina State and will play their last home game March 3 against Delaware State.

OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR
Offensively, the Bears are setting the pace in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with an average of 81.4 points per game, ranked No. 1 in the conference in scoring.

• Morgan exploded for a season-high 124 points versus Cheney University of Pennsylvania (Dec. 4), had 123 points vs. Central Penn (Dec. 1) and 102 vs. NCCU (Jan.7).

• The Bears currently rank No. 2 in the MEAC shooting 48.9 percent from the field and No. 4 shooting 34.8 percent from beyond the arc.

• Kameron Hobbs (15.1 ppg; No. 9 in MEAC) is leading the team.

• Morgan finished the 2023-24 regular season ranked No. 4 in scoring in the MEAC by averaging 72.7 points thru 31 games.

• The Bears averaged 74.9 points (No. 4 in MEAC) thru 31 games during the 2022-23 season.

SO 'KAMTASTIC'! 
• Kameron Hobbs has been on a scoring tear lately. The Stockbridge, Georgia product had scored at least 20 points in 8-consecutive games before his outing against Maryland Eastern Shore (Feb. 1) in which he scored 10 points.  

• His 20-point run was the longest streak of at least that long since Tiwian Kendley accomplished the feat during the 2017-18 season...Kendley had 9-consecutive games with 20 or more points. 

• He had 21 points against Campbell, uncorked 23 points at #3 Iowa State, posted a career-high 25 points against Minnesota, had a game-high 22 points against South Carolina State, exploded for 40 points in a 2OT victory against N.C. Central, had a game-high 24 points at Howard, followed by 23 points versus Norfolk State and 20 against Coppin State.

• Additionally, he has scored in double-figures 19 times, including his last 14 games. 

CATCH US IF YOU CAN
• One of the best transition teams in the nation is Morgan State. 

• The Bears rank No. 7 in the NCAA based on their efficiency in scoring off fast breaks.

• Averaging an impressive 16.2 points per game from fastbreaks, they capitalize on opponents' mistakes and turn defensive plays into offensive opportunities. 

STAY ON TARGET
• Morgan is shooting .489 (767-1570) from the floor and shot 50 percent-or-better 10 times (8-2 record), including a season-high .667 (36-54) on Dec. 15 versus Campbell. 

• Last season, the Bears shot .451 (840-1862) and shot 50 percent-or-better 6 times (5-1 record), including a season-high .635 (54-85) on Dec. 9, 2024 vs. Virginia Lynchburg.

THOMAS SECURES 1000TH CAREER POINT
• Redshirt senior forward Will Thomas needed just 8 points to reach 1,000 career points when the Bears faced Norfolk State on Jan. 13 at Hill Field House…he finished with 12 points and hit the milestone. 

• The Baltimore product has scored 355 points so far this season, bringing his career total to 1,088 points.

• Thomas currently ranks No. 21 on the school's all-time scoring list and is 4 points away from passing James Hall for No. 20 (1,191 pts; 1963-67).

FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE 
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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 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.