Game 31
Game Dates: Friday, March 15, 2013
Opponent: No. 5 Morgan State Bears
Site: The Scope Arena, Norfolk, Va.
Game Time: 6 p.m.
Television: N/A
Live Steam: www.meachoops.com/tournament/live/
Record:  MSU 16-14; BCU 14-19
Series Record: MSU leads 31-22
Last MSU Win: 61-48 (N) March 11, 2011
Last BCU Win: 52-50 (A) Feb. 28, 2007
MSU Coach: Todd Bozeman (125-99 – 7th yr)

No. 5 seed Morgan State (16-14) posted a 64-61 overtime win against No. 4 seed Savannah State and will face No. 8 seed Bethune-Cookman on Friday, March 15 at 6 p.m. in Norfolk Scope Arena in the Semifinals. The winner of the Morgan State-Bethune Cookman showdown will face either N.C. A&T or Delaware State at 5 p.m. Saturday in the championship.

The Bears have had unprecedented success in the MEAC Tournament under head coach Todd Bozeman. The Bears have won two titles and appeared in four and have improved its MEAC Tournament record to 13-4 under Bozeman.

The Bears will enter the Friday night’s contest against the Wildcats having won its last seven games, including 10 of its last 11.

FOLLOW ALONG WITH LIVE STATS
Live stats are available for all home games and most MSU road games by its opponents.

IT’S OK TO BE A FOLLOWER
MSU men’s basketball fans can follow their favorite team, or any of the other MSU athletics programs on Twitter through the handle @MorganStBears.

MEAC TOURNAMENT FACTS
• Morgan State has won three MEAC Tournaments (1977, 2009 & 2010) and made four straight championship appearances from 2008 to 2011 under Coach Bozeman.

• Todd Bozeman has led Morgan State to 13 of the school’s 29 MEAC Tournament wins

• Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman was the 2009 and 2010 Outstanding Coach of the MEAC Tournament.

• Morgan State has had four MVP’s of the MEAC Tournament: Marvin ‘The Human Eraser” Webster (1975); Eric “The Pencil” Evans (1977); Reggie Holmes (2009); and Kevin Thompson (2010).

• Morgan State legendary center Marvin Webster averaged 21.3 rebounds per game during the 1975 MEAC Tournament.

• Morgan State has advanced to the MEAC semifinals six of the last seven years with Todd Bozeman at the helm.

BEAR BITS:

• Coach Todd Bozeman has directed the Bears to the most regular-season conference wins with 105.

•The Bears have not faced Bethune-Cookman since defeating them in the 2011 MEAC Tournament Semifinals.

• Coach Bozeman has directed the Bears to 7 straight victories against Bethune-Cookman since the 2007-08 season … Bozeman’s only loss to the Wildcats was during his first season when the Bears fell 52-50 on Feb. 28, 2007 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida.

• Morgan State defeated High Point in large part as a result of collecting16 offensive rebounds that led to 24 second chance points.

• Senior forward DeWayne Jackson eclipsed the 500 rebound mark – he ranks No. 8 in school history with 550 career rebounds.

• After opening the season with a 71 point effort in a win against UTSA, the Bears have gone 16-14 while averaging 68 points and 44 percent shooting.

• Morgan State shot 67.5 percent from the line last season, and so far through the 30 games the Bears are shooting 58 percent (390-663 FT).

• The Bears, who held Delaware State to 3 of 15 from 3-point range on March 4^th in Baltimore, have allowed an average of 65 points and opponents are shooting 30 percent from 3-point territory.

• Morgan State shot a season-high 59.7 percent against Md.-Eastern Shore, including a season best 63.6 percent from 3-point territory, with 12 steals and nine blocked shots.

• Justin Black has scored 430 points in 30 games and ranked No. 4 among the MEAC’s scoring leaders … he’s currently averaging 14.3 ppg.

• Justin Black was just shy of posting a triple-double at Liberty. The junior guard finished with a career-high 12 rebounds to go along with nine points and nine assists … he leads the team in scoring.

• DeWayne Jackson ranks among the top theft artists in school history. Jackson has collected 169 steals with the Bears and currently ranks No. 2 (finished No. 4 in the MEAC). The school record for career steals is held by Terrence Wright (1992-96) with 186 career steals … Jackson is 18 steals away from becoming the school’s new leader.

• Shaquille Duncan leads the Bears in blocked shots. The sophomore ranked No. 5 in the MEAC and currently has 57 blocks (2.2 bpg).

• The combination of DeWayne Jackson, Anthony Hubbard and Justin Black have provided almost 60 percent of the scoring for the Bears so far this season.

• The Bears’ first 10 games of the 2012-13 season were on the road where they finished 3-7.

• The Bears used nine different lineups this season, but Coach Bozeman has used a lineup 12 times this season that puts DeWayne Jackson at forward with Justin Black, Blake Bozeman, Anthony Hubbard and Ian Chiles.

• Redshirt junior Ian Chiles, who stands at 7-foot-2, 270-pounds, had a career night against Florida A&M by recording18 points (9-13) with six rebounds and two blocks against Florida A&M … he’s currently averaging 9.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 1.6 bpg.

LAST TIME VS. BETHUNE-COOKMAN
March 11, 2011 – Kevin Thompson came off the bench to put on a dominating performance, scoring a game-high 22 points to help Morgan State defeat Bethune-Cookman, 61-48 in the semifinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s tournament at the Joel Coliseum.  The Wildcats (21-12), the Number 1 seed and regular season champion, were led CJ Reed, the MEAC Player of the Year, with seven points. The Bears (17-13) were the Number 4 seed and advanced to the championship where they fell to No. 2 seed Hampton 60-55.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats welcomed back nine veterans, including a pair of starters, from a squad that posted an 18-17 overall record, finished in 4^th place in the MEAC regular season with an 11-5 ledger. All-MEAC forward Adrien Coleman leads the Wildcats averaging 18.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and is shooting 54 percent from the field. Kevin Dukes (10.8 ppg) is also averaging double-figures. Head coach Gravelle Craig (Cleveland State ’94) is in his second season as the Wildcats head coach and he currently holds a 32-36 (.307) record.

MORGAN STATE TABBED THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL
Morgan State was picked to finish third in the 2012-13 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s basketball preseason poll behind Savannah State and Delaware State.

JACKSON AND CHILES EARN PRESEASON HONORS
Morgan State senior DeWayne Jackson was selected to the Preseason All-MEAC First Team by the conference head coaches and sports information directors. Junior center Ian Chiles was selected to the Second Team.

JACKSON’S FINAL POSTSEASON
MSU senior DeWayne Jackson enters his final MEAC Tournament in the Orange & Blue. The 6-foot-8 swingman has been a major contributor at Morgan State where he has won a MEAC Championship, played in the NCAA Tournament and has received a number of postseason honors, including MEAC Rookie of the Year. Jackson is the only player in school history to have the combination of over 1,500 points (1,560 – No. 5), 500 rebounds (550 – No. 8), 150 steals (169 – No. 2) and 150 assists (181).

EXCEPTIONALLY EFFICIENT
Ian Chiles is another Bear that finished the regular season with a top-10 MEAC ranking as the redshirt-junior center is No. 9 in the conference with his .534 field-goal percentage and is No. 9 in blocks averaging 1.6 per game.

THE SETUP ARTIST
Justin Black ranked No. 10 in assists at 3.0 per game and No. 7 with his 1.0 assist-to-turnover ratio amongst all MEAC players.

RECOVERING THE SWAG
The Bears have rebounded from last year’s dismal season in which the Bears recorded a 9-20 finish. It marked Todd Bozeman‘s worst season as a head coach, and it was Morgan State’s worst season since going 4-26 in 2005-06.

JACKSON AND CHILES EARN PRESEASON HONORS
Morgan State senior DeWayne Jackson was selected to the Preseason All-MEAC First Team by the conference head coaches and sports information directors. Junior center Ian Chiles was selected to the Second Team.

JACKSON CLIMBING THE MSU RECORD BOOK
During the Bears opening round victory against S.C. State, DeWayne Jackson (1,560 pts, 550 rebs., 181 asts) surpassed Ernest Garrett (1,540 points – 1952-55) to become the school’s No. 5 all-time leading scorer. Jackson is one of three Bears on MSU’s all-time scoring list who have been coached by Todd Bozeman. Kevin Thompson (2009-12) ranks No. 9 (1,487 points) and Reggie Holmes (2007-10) is the school’s all-time scoring leader with 2,051 points.

HOME GROWN
Morgan State has eight players from the Metropolitan-D.C. area, including one from Baltimore. Senior DeWayne Jackson (Bowie High) and sophomore Blake Bozeman (Solebury Prep) are both from Bowie. Transfer guard Daryl Traynham is from Melwood (Wise High), walk-on Daon Riley is from Severn (Old Mill High), and Cedric Blossom is from Columbia (Montrose Christian). Anthony Hubbard is a product of Woodbridge (Va.), while junior Justin Black attended DeMatha High, Willis Turnipseed played at City High, and Donte Pretlow was a standout at Dunbar High in Baltimore.

BOZEMAN WIN PERCENTAGE AT MSU
Todd Bozeman, now in his seventh season as head coach of the Bears, has an overall win percentage of .560 (126-99) after 224 games at Morgan State. That winning mean is the second highest among 15 head coaches in the history of the Morgan State men’s basketball program. Nathaniel Frazier’s winning percentage of .578 (166-121) is the highest percentage in Morgan State history.

ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS UNDER BOZEMAN
During his tenure in Baltimore, Todd Bozeman has coached seven (7) different players to All-Conference honors, including four Players of the Year selections: Ron Timus (2007 2nd Team), Boubacar Coly (2008 Defensive POTY, 1st Team), Jamar Smith (2008 Offensive POTY, 1st Team), Marquise Kately (2008 & 2009 2nd Team), Reggie Holmes (2007 All-Rookie, 2008 2nd Team, 2009 Offensive POTY, 2009 & 2010 1st Team), Kevin Thompson (2009 All-Rookie, 2010 Defensive POTY, 2010 1st Team, 2011 2nd Team), DeWayne Jackson (Rookie of the Year, 2011 1st Team).

THREE IN DOUBLE FIGURES
In the first 30 games of the season, three Bears average more than 12 points a game Justin Black leads with by averaging 14.3 ppg, DeWayne Jackson averages 13.5 points per game, while Anthony Hubbard is averaging 11.5 points and 6.7 rebounds on the boards.

HIGH CLASS ON THE GLASS
Morgan State ranked No. 1 in the MEAC averaging 14.1 offensive rebounds per game and has recorded double-digit offensive boards in 23 of 29 games. MSU averaged 12.1 offensive rebounds.

PAINT PLAY
One area where the Bears have been consistent is under the basket. Morgan State ranked No. 4 in the league in total rebounding at 35.9 per game, No. 2 in offensive rebounds at 37.1, No. 2 in field goal percentage at 44.6 and No. 2 in blocked shots (5.2).

JACKSON DOING A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING 
Senior DeWayne Jackson is filling the stat sheet this season, averaging 13.5 points (ranked No. 7), 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals (ranked No. 4) per game. Jackson has also registered 26 blocks. He has recorded 25 double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 32-point effort at Virginia (Dec. 19).

TOPPING 20 
With his 20-point effort on Thursday night, Justin Black has posted 20 or more points in eight games this season. In fact, he’s scored at least 20 points in three of the last 4 contests to help the Bears extend to a seven-game winning streak.

Honorable Mention: Golf-PGA Tour Tampa Bay Championship (Thursday & Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel Saturday 1:30pm live on Golf Channel 3pm live on NBC Sunday 1pm live on Golf Channel 3pm live on NBC), Champions Tour Toshiba Classic (Saturday 2:30pm Sunday 3pm from Newport Beach, CA live on Golf Channel), LPGA Tour RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup (Thursday & Friday 6:30pm Saturday & Sunday 4pm from Phoenix, AZ live on Golf Channel); Auto Racing: NASCAR Food City 500 (Sunday 12pm from Bristol, TN live on FOX); Tennis: ATP Tour WTA Tour BNP Paribas Open (Tuesday & Wednesday 1:30pm Thursday 1:30pm & 10pm live on Tennis Channel Friday 6:30pm & 9:30pm live on Tennis Channel 4:30pm & 11:30pm live on ESPN2 Saturday 3pm & 5pm live on ESPNNews 8:30pm live on Tennis Channel Sunday 3pm & 5pm live on ESPN2); College Football: Towson Pro Day (Tuesday Unitas Stadium), Maryland Pro Day (Wednesday Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium); Boxing: Timothy Bradly vs. Ruslan Provodnikov (Saturday 10:15pm from Carson, CA live on HBO); Women’s College Basketball: NCAA Tournament Selection Monday (Monday 7pm live on ESPN)

10. Rihanna (Tuesday 7:30pm 1st Mariner Arena); P!nk (Thursday 7:30pm Verizon Center); Trapt (Tuesday 8pm Rams Head Live), Drive By Truckers (Sunday 8pm Rams Head Live); Better Than Ezra (Saturday 7pm Power Plant Live); Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (Wednesday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage); Dr. John (Tuesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Average White Band (Thursday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Marshall Tucker Band (Sunday 7:30pm Rams Head on Stage); Finch (Thursday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Dropkick Murphys/Carbon Leaf (Friday 7am 9:30 Club), Citizen Cope (Friday 8pm 9:30 Club); George Thorogood & The Destroyers (Tuesday 7:30pm Birchmere); Slick Rick/Rakim (Friday 8pm Howard Theatre); Shamrockfest feat. Sublime with Rome/Virginia Coalition/Carbon Leaf (Saturday 12:45pm RFK Stadium); Sound City: Real to Reel soundtrack available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

You already know damn well I’ll be wandering over to see Better Than Ezra after the Blast game Saturday night.

Despite not particularly enjoying much of anything else in the genre, I really flipping loved “What It Is To Burn” by Finch. I’d go see this show.

Spending a day in the parking lot at RFK Stadium? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Unless Virginia Coalition is involved. (Sorry for the video quality.)

I legitimately CANNOT get enough Sound City in my life. Dave Grohl is a rock God, but you already knew that.

9. Lewis Black (Saturday 8pm Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric); Bill Bellamy (Thursday-Saturday  Baltimore Comedy Factory); Pablo Francisco (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); “Life of Pi” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 25th Anniversary Edition” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); “Spring Breakers” and “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” out in theaters (Friday); Glenn Clark’s St. Patrick’s Day plans (Sunday parts unknown)

Yes. We ALL feel the same way about Jessica Rabbit. We just agree not to talk about it so that people don’t talk about us behind our backs.

We CAN however discuss the cast of Spring Breakers if you’d like.

And before we leave this part of the show, BANGERS AND EFFING MASH! ERIN GO BRAGH!

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Honorable Mention: Tennis-ATP Tour WTA Tour BNP Paribas Open (Friday-Monday 2pm from Indian Wells, CA live on Tennis Channel); Women’s College Basketball: ACC Tournament-Maryland vs. Georgia Tech/Wake Forest (Friday 6pm from Greensboro, NC live on Comcast SportsNet PLUS); Boxing: Tavoris Cloud vs. Bernard Hopkins (Saturday 9:30pm from Brooklyn, NY live on HBO), Friday Night Fights: Victor Cayo vs. Emmanuel Taylor (Friday 9pm from Atlantic City live on ESPN2); MMA: Bellator MMA (Thursday 10pm from Temecula, CA live on SpikeTV)

10. Stars (Thursday 8pm Rams Head Live); Ballyhoo! (Saturday 7pm Recher Theatre); Machine Gun Kelly (Sunday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage); Oak Ridge Boys (Friday 6pm & 9pm Rams Head on Stage), Leon Redbone (Saturday 8:30pm Rams Head on Stage), Standing in the Shadows of Motown feat. Peabo Bryson & Leela James (Monday 6pm & 9pm Rams Head on Stage); Joe Nichols (Saturday 7pm Rams Head Center Stage); Rusted Root (Saturday 6pm 9:30 Club), Dropkick Murphys (Sunday & Monday 6:30pm 9:30 Club); Scott Weiland (Monday 8pm Howard Theatre)

If you like music and live in Charm City, you’ve probably seen Ballyhoo! at some point in the last 24 months.

No band has greater benefitted from car rentals than Rusted Root. (If you don’t already get it, you will.)

Dropkick Murphys are coming. Let this be a reminder that we’re only days from St. Patrick’s Day.

Recently Scott Weiland was fired by Stone Temple Pilots. It was uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as the meeting his solo project Scott Weiland had the same day where the need to fire Scott Weiland was also discussed…

9. Tom Arnold (Friday & Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); “Wreck-It Ralph” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); “Oz The Great And Powerful” out in theaters (Friday); Baltimore St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Sunday 2pm Downtown Baltimore)

With all due respect to Tom Arnold, I’d rather be seeing Chris Farley AS Tom Arnold…

And I like this pre-St. Patty’s Day St. Patty’s Day. So here’s this.

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GAME TIME
Morgan State (3-5, 2-3 MEAC) continues the 2012 season play in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup against No. 24 Bethune-Cookman on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at Hughes Stadium.  The Wildcats enter the 2012 season under the leadership of third-year head coach Brian Jenkins. The Wildcats (6-2, 5-0) are coming off a 42-17 win against North Carolina Central.  The Bears fell short in the final moments against Delaware State 28-23 at Hughes Stadium.

THE BEARS-WILDCATS MATCHUP 
• The Bears and Wildcats will meet for the 28th time since 1986. Bethune-Cookman leads the series 18-8.

•  Nov. 5, 2011 – Isidore Jackson rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown, and Jackie Wilson ran for three touchdowns as Bethune-Cookman eased past Morgan State 49-23 before a Homecoming crowd of 9,649 at Municipal Stadium. Wilson finished 10-of-15 for 186 yards for the Wildcats who finished the ballgame with seven rushing touchdowns. Travis Davidson had a 44-yard rushing touchdown and rushed for a game-high 133 yards on 17 carries to lead Morgan State.

• The last time the Wildcats played in Hughes Stadium was on Oct. 2, 2010 … A dominating 69-32 victory over Morgan State extended the Wildcats’ record to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the MEAC. MSU finished the game by committing eight turnovers, four by air (interceptions) and four by ground (fumbles). MSU, held to 247 yards total offense, got touchdowns from Tyrone Hendrix on a 93-yard kickoff return and Nico Scott on a 44-yard interception return and trailed 42-26 at halftime.

QUICK HITS
• Travis Davidson currently ranks 2nd in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in rushing with 794 yards (113.4 avg/g). He also ranks No. 1 the MEAC in scoring (72 Pts).

•  QB Robert Council started against Delaware State and completed 13-of-19 passes for 68 yards and scored two touchdowns, including a  41-yard touchdown run.

•  Cornerback Joe Rankin registered his 9th interception of his career, picking off Savannah State quarterback Antonio Bostic in the 1st quarter…He currently leads the MEAC in INTs with four in eight games…he also ranks No. 3 in passes defended (10), while his freshman teammate DaShaun Summers leads the league with 1.33 average passes defended.

• The MSU defense has collected 10 interceptions (ranked No. 3 in MEAC) through the first eight games of 2012.

•  The Bears continue to be among the top scoring offenses in the league, entering Saturday’s contest as the MEAC’s No. 4 ranked scoring offense (24.9 avg/g).

•  True freshman LB Elandon Roberts currently ranks No. 2 in the MEAC in tackles by posting 76 tackles so far this season. … he recorded a season-high 16 tackles against Delaware State on Oct. 25.

•  Four of the Bears’ losses have been by a total of 10 points – an average of 2.5 points per game.

WILDCATS THUMBNAIL
• The Wildcats enter Week 9 coming off a 42-17 dominant performance against N.C. Central to move into sole possession of first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The win improved the Wildcats to 6-2 overall and 5-0 in conference play.

• In 2011, Bethune-Cookman finished with a 8-3 overall record and 6-2 in the MEAC.

• Bethune’s dual QB threat of Quentin Williams and Brodrick Waters continue to wreak havoc for defenses this season. Williams, a 6-foot, 190-pounder from Tampa (Fla.) has completed 49 of 83 for 655 yards and six touchdowns with an interception. He currenlty ranks No. 2 in pass efficiency (146.8 and No. 8 in passing average (109.2/g). Waters, a 5-11, 195-pounder from Sarasota (Fla.) ranbks No 8 in pass efficiency having completed 26 of 54 passes for 258 yards and four TDs.

• Bethune-Cookman maintained its status as the national leader in turnover margin with its +2.25 per game total.

• Through the first eight games, RB Isidore Jackson (5-10, 205) has been the leading rusher in the Wildcats’ high-octane offense. The junior from Mossey Head (Fla.) has recorded 126 carries for 707 yards (5.6 avg), including seven TDs.  He rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns against N.C. Central last Saturday.

• MSU’s offense will have to account for the Wildcat’s linebacker Jarkevis Fields. The junior currently ranks among the league leaders with 63 tackles (ranks 12th), to go along with 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

• The Bears’ defensive unit will face a Wildcats line that leads the league in rushing by averaging 235.1 per contest.

• Through eight games, the Bethune-Cookman defense ranks 3rd in the MEAC in scoring defense by limiting opponents to 19.9 points per contest and ranks 3rd in total defense (317.8/g).

JUICE UPDATE
• Travis Davidson needs to gain 107 rushing yards to surpass Craig Nelson at No. 9 on the school’s all-time rushing list. “Juice” currently has 1,537 career rushing yards.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK
•  The Bears rushing for 100 yards or more for the ninth consecutive game and for the 15th straight time since their October 8, 2011 game versus Savannah State.

•  The Bears having a 300-yard passing game for the first time since October 8, 2011. In Week 6, Morgan State defeated Savannah State 44-17 and Seth Higgins, Nate Furrha and Robert Council combined for 16-of-26 passes for 318 yards and five TDs.

•  Cornerback Joe Rankin registering an interception would mark his fifth of the season and the 10th of his career.  He would need to collect six more to surpass Joe Fowlkes for the school record.  Fowlkes posted 15 INTs during his career (1975-78).

•  Running back Travis Davidson rushing for 100 yards or more for the eighth time in his career.

SENIOR DAY
Twenty-one (21) Morgan State seniors will be honored before the start of Saturday’s game.

NOVEMBER CHILL
The Bears are 10-18 in November games since the start of the 2002 season and 3-8 at home that month.

NEXT UP
After Saturday’s contest versus Bethune-Cookman, the Bears will hit the road to play against the Spartans of Norfolk State.