Men's Basketball 3/10/2025 12:00:00 PM MSU Athletics Communications

MEAC Mayhem Starts Here

#5 Bears and #4 Bison Battle for a Bracket Breakthrough

SETTING THE STAGE
• The Morgan State Bears are set to clash with the Howard Bison in a highly anticipated Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Quarterfinal matchup on Thursday night. As the No. 5 seed, the Bears face a tough challenge against the No. 4 seeded Bison, particularly given their recent history. The Bears are looking to avenge a stinging loss suffered against Howard on February 22nd. The stakes are clear: a victory would propel them into the coveted Semifinals on Friday, bringing them one step closer to the MEAC Championship title.Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Norfolk Scope Arena and fans unable to attend in person can catch all the action live on ESPN+.

• Morgan suffered a heartbreaking 82-75 overtime loss against crosstown rival Coppin State on Thursday night at PEC Arena. Kameron Hobbs led the Bears with 20 points and Daniel Akitoby added 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds with two blocked shots.

• Howard dropped an 81-69 home loss to Norfolk State on Thursday night. Senior guard Marcus Dockery scored a game-high 23 points to lead four Bison in double figures, but it was not enough to overcome a late run as the Bison dropped their fourth straight falling to 12-19 (7-7 MEAC).

• 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.) leads the Bison in scoring. Harper is averaging 19.3 points (No. 1 in MEAC), 6.3 rebounds (No. 2) and is shooting 45% from the field (No. 8) and 82% from the free throw line (No. 5). Dockery, a senior guard, is averaging 16.4 points (No. 9), 2.6 rebounds and is shooting 49 percent from the field (No. 4) and 41 percent from three (No. 3). 6-foot-4 guard Anwar Gill (Washington, D.C.) is chipping in 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and is shooting 49 percent from the field.

• Brian Moore Jr. scored 21 points as Norfolk State beat Howard 81-69 on Thursday night to clinch a share of the MEAC regular-season championship. Jalen Myers added 19 points while shooting 5 of 7 from the field and 9 for 11 from the line while he also had 10 rebounds. Marcus Dockery led the way for the Bison (12-19, 7-7) with 23 points, six rebounds and three steals. Blake Harper added 17 points and Cameron Shockley-Okeke finished with 12 points.

HU by the Numbers
• 77.1: Howard currently ranks No. 6 in the MEAC in scoring.
• 19.3: The Bison have been led by Blake Harper who leads the MEAC in scoring.
• 3.7: Anwar Gill leads Howard in assists (ranks No. 3 in the MEAC).
• 78.9: On average Howard is giving up just under 80 points per contest to opponents (ranks No. 7).
• .372: Howard ranks No. 1 in the MEAC in 3-point field goal percentage.
• .334: Howard ranks No. 3 in the MEAC in field goal percentage.
• 15.8: 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 February 22, 2025 -- Cameron Shockley and Blake Harper combined for 45 points to lead the Howard Bison men's basketball team to an 87-81 victory against Beltway rival Morgan State on Saturday afternoon at Hill Field House. The Bison shot 46.4% from the field, led by Cameron Shockley-Okeke, who finished with 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting and contributed 3 rebounds. Shockley-Okeke's three-point shooting (5-of-11) was key in opening up the floor for Howard. Will Thomas led the Bears with a game-high 31 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the field, including 9-for-10 from the free throw line. Kameron Hobbs provided a spark in the second half, scoring 9 of his 27 points after halftime.

• 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
BALTIMORE, Md. - Sophomore forward Khalil Horton scored a career-high 28 points to lead Coppin State to an 82-75 overtime victory against crosstown rival Morgan State on Thursday night at PEC Arena. The Eagles closed the regular season at 6-23 overall and 4-10 in the MEAC while the Bears fell to 13-17 on the year and 7-7 in league play.

• Horton hit 7-of-12 from the floor with a career-high six threes and also made a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line, also setting a career-high.

• Kameron Hobbs scored 23 points (9-17 FG) with five boards in 42 minutes. Daniel Akitoby added 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds with two blocked shots. Will Thomas scored 12 points (4-9 FG) with seven assists, six boards and four steals.

• Morgan State shot 48 percent (27-56) from the field, including 22 percent (2-9) from 3-point territory. The Eagles shot 44 percent (28-64) from the floor and was 9-for-22 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.

• The regular-season finale is three days later at Coppin State, followed the next week by the MEAC tournament in Norfolk, Va.

OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR
Offensively, the Bears are setting the pace in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with an average of 80.4 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 ranked No. 2 in the MEAC shooting 48 percent from the field and No. 6 shooting 33.9 percent from beyond the arc.

• Kameron Hobbs (16.1 ppg; No. 7 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 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 St. and 20 at Coppin State.

• Additionally, he has scored in double-figures 24 times, including his last 19 games... and he's scored 20 or more points in 14 games.

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

• The Bears rank No. 13 in the NCAA based on their efficiency in scoring off fast breaks.

• Averaging an impressive 15.3 points per game from fastbreaks, they capitalize on opponents' mistakes and turn defensive plays into offensive opportunities.

STAY ON TARGET
• Morgan is shooting .481 (894-1859) from the floor and shot 50 percent-or-better 12 times (10-2 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.

HOBBS ENTERS 1,000 POINT CLUB
• Redshirt senior guard Kameron Hobbs scored 15 points at Maryland Eastern Shore to enter the 1,000 point club.

• He currently has 1,054 career points at Morgan State and sits at No. 24 on the school's all-time scoring list.

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 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.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#12 Daniel Akitoby: F; 6' 9"; Senior

#0 Kameron Hobbs: G; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior

#3 Rob Lawson: G; 6' 0"; Junior

#11 Amahrie Simpkins: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#1 Wynston Tabbs: G; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

#10 Will Thomas: F; 6' 6"; Redshirt Senior

#24 Logan Schayes: F; 6' 8"; Sophomore

#7 Marland Harris: F; 6' 10"; Junior

#32 Jayden Socka: F; 6' 9"; Junior

#22 Pierce Shirk: G; 6' 4"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#12 Daniel Akitoby
: 6' 9"; Senior
: F

#0 Kameron Hobbs
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#3 Rob Lawson
: 6' 0"; Junior
: G

#11 Amahrie Simpkins
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#1 Wynston Tabbs
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: G

#10 Will Thomas
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#24 Logan Schayes
: 6' 8"; Sophomore
: F

#7 Marland Harris
: 6' 10"; Junior
: F

#32 Jayden Socka
: 6' 9"; Junior
: F

#22 Pierce Shirk
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: G