BALTIMORE, Md. (October 1, 2026) -- Morgan State men's basketball enters the 2026-27 season with a familiar goal and a dramatically different roster.

After catching fire during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign, the Bears return to the court determined to build on the momentum of a season that saw them finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season standings and earn the No. 2 seed in the MEAC Tournament.

Picked to finish fourth in the MEAC preseason poll, Morgan State exceeded expectations by posting a 14-16 overall record and a 10-4 mark in league play -- the program's best conference record since 2016-17. The Bears won 10 of their final 12 regular-season games and secured their highest MEAC tournament seeding in several years.

The postseason ended in heartbreaking fashion, as the No. 2 seed Bears fell to No. 7 Delaware State, 75-70, in overtime in the MEAC quarterfinals.

Now, with the next chapter set to begin, Head Coach Kevin Broadus and his staff have reshaped the roster with an infusion of experienced transfers, talented newcomers, and returning players ready for expanded roles.

Broadus, who enters his eighth season at the helm of the Morgan State program and is the reigning MEAC Coach of the Year, believes the pieces are in place for the Bears to take another step forward.

"We have a lot of new faces, but we also have a lot of talent and experience," Broadus said. "Our goal is to come together quickly, establish our identity and put ourselves in position to compete for a championship."

REPLACING A PRODUCTIVE BACKCOURT

Morgan State's biggest challenge is replacing the production and leadership of All-MEAC performer Elijah Davis, along with guards Rob Lawson and Walter Peggs Jr. The trio was instrumental in Morgan State's run to second place in the MEAC standings.

Davis was one of the conference's top point guards, averaging 13.8 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game. His departure leaves the Bears with the task of replacing not only his scoring production, but also his ability to orchestrate the offense and create opportunities for his teammates.

The Bears must find a new primary ball-handler, while also redistributing the production of three key contributors from last season.

Morgan State's offensive identity evolved dramatically in 2025-26. The Bears increased their three-point volume from 4.6 made three-pointers on 13.6 attempts per game in 2024-25 to 7.0 makes on 21.1 attempts last season.

With three players attempting at least 70 three-pointers, Broadus and his staff have emphasized bringing in players capable of continuing to stretch the floor while adding versatility and athleticism.
 

THE BACKCOURT

While Morgan State must replace Davis' production at the point, the Bears do return one of the MEAC's most accomplished perimeter scorers in Alfred Worrell Jr.

Worrell started 26 of 30 games last season and averaged 28.5 minutes per contest, emerging as one of the conference's most dangerous offensive weapons. He scored in double figures 23 times, including 13 games with at least 20 points, and finished the season averaging 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steal per game.

His 17.4 points per game ranked fourth in the MEAC, while his perimeter shooting made him one of the league's most efficient scoring threats. Worrell shot 36.3 percent from three-point range, connecting on 81 of 223 attempts, which ranked second in the conference. He was even more effective at the free-throw line, leading the MEAC by converting 88.5 percent (146-of-165) of his attempts.

Worrell's production earned him All-MEAC recognition and BOXTOROW All-American honors, while he was also selected to the 2026 Black College Sports Page "Baad Team."

With Worrell back in the lineup, the Bears have an established scorer to build around as they search for new answers at point guard.

Darian Grant arrives from Northern Oklahoma-Enid following a strong sophomore campaign that included NJCAA Division I All-Tournament Team honors and an Elite Eight appearance.

"Darian is a tough, physical wing who brings versatility and a winning mindset to our program," Broadus said. "He's proven he can compete at a high level, score the basketball, and impact the game in multiple ways. We're excited about what he brings to our culture and the direction we're heading."

Trey Pettigrew joins the Bears after starting every game for Johnson C. Smith during the 2025-26 season. The Chicago native averaged 17.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three-point range.

"Trey is a proven scorer who brings experience, toughness and versatility to our backcourt," Broadus said. "He's competed at multiple levels and understands what it takes to impact winning."

Keith Richard, a 6-foot guard from Dallas, Texas, arrives from South Plains College, where he started 19 of 27 games and averaged 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 25.5 minutes per game. Richard shot 41 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc.

"He's a tough, experienced guard who can really stretch the floor with his shooting ability," Broadus said. "Keith has played at a high level and brings maturity, confidence and competitiveness to our backcourt. We believe he'll fit well into our system and make an immediate impact."
 

THE FRONTCOURT

While the backcourt has undergone significant changes, Morgan State returns three forwards who could play important roles in the Bears' success: Matar Wade, Manok Lual and Trent Edwards.

Wade, a junior, was limited to 14 games last season because of injury but provides Morgan State with size and defensive versatility. He averaged 1.7 points per game and recorded 11 blocks.

Broadus expects Wade to make a significant jump entering his third season.

Lual appeared in 20 games as a reserve last season and averaged 7.8 minutes per contest. With an expanded role expected, his length and athleticism could provide another dimension to the Bears' frontcourt.

Edwards missed the 2025-26 season because of injury but returns after averaging 3.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2024-25. He also recorded 27 blocks and gives the Bears another versatile option on both ends of the floor.

Morgan State also added experienced transfer Khalil Horton, who spent the previous three seasons at crosstown rival Coppin State.

The Erie, Pennsylvania native appeared in all 31 games for the Eagles in 2025-26, making 24 starts. He averaged 7.4 points and 2.1 rebounds while recording 27 assists, six blocks and a team-best 21 steals.

"Khalil is offensively versatile and will be a defensive presence for us," Broadus said. "He fits our playing style exceptionally well because of his intensity, competitiveness, and ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. We're excited to welcome him to the Morgan family."

Broadus also addressed the need for additional size with the additions of Oliver Spence and Ibrahima Traore.

Spence, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound native of Slovakia, joins the Bears after spending his freshman season at the University of the District of Columbia. He appeared in 17 games and averaged 13.3 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the field.

Traore, a 6-foot-9, 222-pound native of Bamako, Mali, arrives at Morgan State after spending time with the University of Utah program.

"Ibrahima plays with tremendous energy and passion," Broadus said. "He is an excellent rebounder and rim protector, and he has a relentlessness to his game that seems never to stop."

The combination of returning forwards and incoming size gives Morgan State additional options in the frontcourt while allowing Broadus to create different lineups depending on the opponent.
 

A NEW-LOOK ROSTER

Morgan State's 2026-27 roster features a blend of returning players and newcomers assembled with the goal of maintaining the program's upward trajectory.

Returning: Alfred Worrell Jr., Breon Barnett, David Bumpass, Trent Edwards, Manok Lual, and Matar Wade
Transfers/Additions: Darian Grant, Trey Pettigrew, Keith Richard, Khalil Horton, Oliver Spence, John Awoke, Jeremiah Kwarteng, and Ibrahima Traore
Departures: Eugene Alvin, Christian Meeks
Out of Eligibility: Elijah Davis, Rob Lawson, and Walter Peggs Jr.

For Broadus, the challenge now is turning a collection of new pieces into a cohesive team.

"It's going to take time, but we're excited about this group," Broadus said. "Our job is to get everybody on the same page, establish our identity, and continue to get better every day. We believe this team has a chance to be very good."

The Bears will open the 2026-27 campaign at home against Cheyney University on Monday, Nov. 2, beginning a challenging non-conference schedule designed to prepare Morgan State for the rigors of MEAC play.

The schedule features regional rivals and nationally recognized programs, including UMBC, Towson, North Carolina A&T, Cornell, George Mason, Maryland and Auburn.

Morgan State will also participate in the inaugural 410 Invitational powered by Under Armour, a planned multi-year event featuring men's and women's basketball teams from Morgan State, UMBC, Towson and Loyola.

The men's competition begins Nov. 12, when Morgan State travels to UMBC. The Bears will return to action Nov. 14 for the championship or consolation game, with Towson hosting this year's championship round.

The Bears will open MEAC play at home against Maryland Eastern Shore on Jan. 2, before traveling to North Carolina Central on Jan. 9 for their first conference road game.

Morgan State will close the regular season with four consecutive road games, culminating with a March 4 matchup at crosstown rival Coppin State.

The 2026-27 campaign will ultimately build toward the MEAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament, March 9-14 in Norfolk, Virginia, where the Bears hope to be playing their best basketball of the season.

After making a significant jump in conference play last season, Morgan State enters 2026-27 with a new roster, a renewed sense of urgency and a clear objective: turn last season's breakthrough into a championship run.

"We want to compete for championships," Broadus said. "That's always the goal at Morgan State. We know what it takes, and now we have to put the work in every day to get there."

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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate, and certificate programs. 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.