Game Dates: Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013
Opponent: Hampton Pirates
Site: Hill Field House, Baltimore, Md.
Game Time: 4 p.m.
Record:  MSU 6-11 (3-3); HU 6-13 (3-3)
MSU Coach: Todd Bozeman (116-96 – 7th yr)

Setting the Scene:
Morgan State tips off a two-game homestand Saturday afternoon against Hampton. The Bears beat the Pirates, 80-78 in Hampton, and will look for the season sweep when Hampton comes to Baltimore. Saturday’s game at Hill Field House is set for 4 p.m. (ET). The Bears will enter the game coming off of a 69-61 loss at North Carolina Central. Justin Black and DeWayne Jackson led the Bears with 20 points apiece. Hampton (6-13, 3-3) snapped a 3- game losing skid on Wednesday, beating South Carolina State 64-60 in Orangeburg. Ramon Mercado led the Pirates with 14 points and Dwight Meikle had 13. The meeting with Hampton will be the 68th all-time between the schools, with the Pirates leading the head-to-head series, 39-28.

Bear Bits:
• Coach Todd Bozeman has directed the Bears to the most regular-season conference wins with 98.

• After opening the season with a 71 point effort in a win against UTSA, the Bears have gone 6-10 while averaging 68 points and 44 percent shooting.

• Morgan State, who shot 67.6 percent from the line last season, continues to have hard times from the stripe … through the first 17 games the Bears are ranked last in the conference by shooting 58.1 percent (240-413 FT).

• The Bears, who held North Carolina A&T to 4 of 21 from 3-point range, have allowed an average of 72 points and opponents are shooting 32 percent from 3-point territory.

• Morgan State shot a season-high 53.3 percent against South Carolina State and a season best 65.0 percent from the stripe, with 11 steals versus the South Carolina Gamecocks.

• DeWayne Jackson has scored 248 points in 17 games and ranks among the MEAC’s scoring leaders ranked No. 4 (14.6 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 has been the Bears leading scorer in 6 of the last nine games and ranks No. 8 in the MEAC in scoring at 13.5 ppg.

• DeWayne Jackson is ranked among the top theft artists in school history. Jackson has collected 154 steals with the Bears and currently ranks No. 5 (No. 1 in the MEAC & No. 26 in the nation). The school record for career steals is held by Terrence Wright (1992-96) with 186 career steals … Jackson is 33 steals away from becoming the school’s new leader.

• Shaquille Duncan leads the Bears in blocked shots. The sophomore ranks T-No. 4 (36) in the MEAC by averaging 2.4 blocks per game.

• 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 seven different lineups this season, but Coach Bozeman used a lineup five 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, enters Saturday’s contest with 421 career points and 73 blocked shots … he’s currently averaging 8.9 ppg and 4.9 rpg.

LAST TIME OUT VS. HAMPTON
January 20, 2012 – DeWayne Jackson came off the bench to score 24 points and Morgan State edged Hampton 80-78 Saturday night in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action. Jackson hit 9 of 14 field goal attempts, 3 of 5 from 3-point range, for the Bears. Three teammates also finished in double figures. Anthony Hubbard scored 13 points, Justin Black 12 and Ian Chiles 10. The Bears led 42-33 at halftime, but Hampton (5-11, 2-1) rallied. The Pirates got double-doubles from Deron Powers (19 points, 10 assists) and Emmanuel Okoroba (15 points, 10 rebounds).

SCOUTING THE PIRATES
The Pirates welcome back six veterans, including one starter, from a squad that posted a 12-21 overall record, finished T-8th in the MEAC with a 6-10 ledger. Hampton has a total new look with nine players on this year’s roster, seven of which are freshman. Freshman guard Deron Powers leads the Pirates averaging 11.7 points and is shooting 38 percent from the field. Junior forward Du’Vaughn Maxwell leads Hampton on the glass by averaging 6.7 rpg to go along with 7.9 ppg. Head coach Edward Joyner, Jr. (JCSU ’95) enters his fourth season as the Pirates head coach and he currently holds a 56-61 record (.478).

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.

UNFAMILIAR FOES
Morgan State will face six teams this season that the program has never met in its basketball history. The first time opponents are: UTSA, Old Dominion, Holy Cross, South Carolina, Illinois State and San Diego. The Bears do not see a familiar foe until the Nov. 29 matchup at Liberty (MSU leads, 1-0), their fifth game of the season. The other five opponents MSU previously has played are University of Virginia (trails, 0-1), Loyola Marymount (leads, 2-0), and Saint Joseph’s (trails, 0-1).

JACKSON SET TO LEAD
DeWayne Jackson is the lone returning senior who saw action for Morgan State last year. There are seven (7) juniors, four (4) sophomores and two (2) freshmen on the Bears roster.

RECOVERING THE SWAG
The Bears will look to rebound 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
DeWayne Jackson (1,404, 474 rebs., 153 asts) needs 97 points to surpass Harry Johnson (1,500 points – 1958-62) to become the school’s No. 8 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 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 .547 (116-96) after 212 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 17 games of the season, three Bears average more than 12 points a game DeWayne Jackson leads with 14.6 points per game, while Justin Black is averaging 13.5 ppg. Anthony Hubbard is averaging 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds on the boards.

JACKSON DOING A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING 
Senior DeWayne Jackson is filling the stat sheet this season, averaging 14.6 points (ranked No. 5), 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 steals (ranked No. 2) per game. Jackson has also registered 13 blocks. He has recorded 17 double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 32-point effort at Virginia (Dec. 19).

CONTROLLING THE GLASS
The Bears have only out-rebounded 6 of their first 17 opponents so far this season. In fact, the Bears have gone 5-1 in the games in which they’ve won the battle on the boards. MSU’s best rebounding performance was during its season-opening win against UTSA where they held a 52-26 advantage on the glass.

UP NEXT
The Bears will continue the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schedule when they host MEAC reigning champions Norfolk State at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4 at Hill Field House.

NORFOLK, Va. – Coppin State freshman Patrick Cole earned his third Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week honor the league announced on Monday.

Cole averaged 23.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game against Hampton and North Carolina Central.

He scored a career-high 29 points, including making two free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime, to lead the Eagles to a 67-65 victory at Hampton. He was 9-of-17 from the floor and made 7-of-8 free throw attempts.

Cole then scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds at North Carolina Central.

He also shot 46.7 percent from the floor and 85.7 percent from the free throw line in the two games.

Cole previously won the award on Nov. 12 and Nov. 16.

Game Dates: Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013
Opponent: Hampton Pirates
Site: HU Convocation Center, Hampton, Va.
Game Time: 4 p.m.
MSU Coach: Todd Bozeman (115-94 – 7th yr)

BALTIMORE, Md. — Morgan State (4-9, 1-1) will head to the Tidewater area to take on the Hampton Pirates in a conference matchup at the HU Convocation Center in Hampton, Virginia. MSU will enter Saturday’s contest attempting to rebound from a 78-70 2OT loss at home against Savannah State. DeWayne Jackson and Justin Black led the Bears with 18 points apiece. Hampton Pirates (5-10, 2-0) picked up their third straight win on Monday, beating Quinnipiac 70-64 at the HU Convocation Center. Emmanuel Okoroba and Deron Powers (the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week) led the Pirates with 16 points. The meeting with Hampton will be the 67th all-time between the schools, with the Pirates leading the head-to-head series, 39-27.

Bear Bits:
• The Bears are looking for its first win against Hampton since January 16, 2012 at Hill Field House.

• Coach Todd Bozeman has directed the Bears to the most regular-season conference wins with 97.

• After opening the season with a 71 point effort in a win against UTSA, the Bears have gone 4-9 while averaging 67 points and 43 percent shooting.

• Morgan State, who shot 67.6 percent from the line last season, continues to have hard times from the stripe … through the first 13 games the Bears are ranked last in the conference by shooting 59.5 percent (184-309 FT).

• The Bears, who held South Carolina State to 2 of 9 from 3-point range, have allowed an average of 73 points and opponents are shooting 33 percent from 3-point territory.

• Morgan State shot a season-high 53.3 percent against South Carolina State and a season best 65.0 percent from the stripe, with 11 steals versus the South Carolina Gamecocks.

• DeWayne Jackson has scored 187 points in 13 games and ranks among the MEAC’s scoring leaders ranked No. 6 (14.4 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 has been the Bears leading scorer in 4 of the last five games.

• DeWayne Jackson is ranked among the top theft artists in school history. Jackson has collected 147 steals with the Bears and currently ranks No. 5 (No. 17 in the nation). The school record for career steals is held by Terrence Wright (1992-96) with 186 career steals … Jackson is 41 steals away from becoming the school’s new leader.

• Morgan State’s Thair Heath has missed only four shots through the first 11 games of the season … Heath is 12-of-16 (75%) from the floor.

• Shaquille Duncan leads the Bears in blocked shots. The sophomore ranks No. 4 (26) in the MEAC by averaging 2.2 blocks per game.

• 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.

• Morgan State has used the lineup of Heath, Hubbard, Chiles, Jackson and Bozeman for six of the Bears first 12 contests.

LAST TIME OUT VS. HAMPTON
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (March 6, 2012) – The Bears’ struggles with converting field goals was their undoing at the 2012 MEAC Tournament.  Hampton found their stride with their three-point shooting and Darrion Pellum stepped up late to help them defeat the Bears 69-65 in the first round action of the MEAC Tournament. MSU was very much in the game despite converting only four of 32 field goals in the first half. The Bears outrebounded Hampton by a 48-35 margin that included 21 offensive boards.

SCOUTING THE PIRATES
March 6, 2012 – The Bears’ struggles with converting field goals was their undoing at the 2012 MEAC Tournament.  Hampton found their stride with their three-point shooting and Darrion Pellum stepped up late to help them defeat the Bears 69-65 in the first round action of the MEAC Tournament. MSU was very much in the game despite converting only four of 32 field goals in the first half. The Bears outrebounded Hampton by a 48-35 margin that included 21 offensive boards.

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.

UNFAMILIAR FOES
Morgan State will face six teams this season that the program has never met in its basketball history. The first time opponents are: UTSA, Old Dominion, Holy Cross, South Carolina, Illinois State and San Diego. The Bears do not see a familiar foe until the Nov. 29 matchup at Liberty (MSU leads, 1-0), their fifth game of the season. The other five opponents MSU previously has played are University of Virginia (trails, 0-1), Loyola Marymount (leads, 2-0), and Saint Joseph’s (trails, 0-1).

JACKSON SET TO LEAD
DeWayne Jackson is the lone returning senior who saw action for Morgan State last year. There are seven (7) juniors, four (4) sophomores and two (2) freshmen on the Bears roster.

RECOVERING THE SWAG
The Bears will look to rebound 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
DeWayne Jackson (1,343, 448 rebs., 149 asts) needs 11 points to surpass former teammate Kevin Thompson (1,364 points – 2009-12) to become the school’s No. 11 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 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 .550 (115-94) after 209 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 13 games of the season, three Bears average more than 12 points a game DeWayne Jackson leads with 14.4 points per game, while Justin Black is averaging 13.4 ppg. Anthony Hubbard is averaging 12.1 points and 6.7 rebounds on the boards.

JACKSON DOING A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING EARLY ON
Senior DeWayne Jackson is filling the stat sheet in the early season, averaging 14.4 points (ranked No. 7), 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists (ranked No. 10) and 2.4 steals (ranked No. 1) per game. Jackson has also registered 10 blocks. He has recorded 12 double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 32-point effort at Virginia (Dec. 19).

BLACKSTREET
Junior guard Justin Black has been one of the most consistent players for the Bears this season. The 6-foot-2 guard is among the MEAC’s leading scorers (Ranked No. 10 -13.4 ppg) and has scored double-figures 9 of 13 games, including the last five contests. The Dunbar HS product is averaging an impressive 17.5 points and 11 of 12 (91%) from the free throw line thru a pair of MEAC games (17 pts vs. S.C. State and 18 pts vs. Savannah State) and has been in the starting lineup the last three games.

UP NEXT
The Bears will continue the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schedule when they travel to face the reigning MEAC champion Spartans of Norfolk State at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21 at Echols Hall.

GAME TIME
Morgan State (3-6, 2-4 MEAC) continues the 2012 season play in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup against Hampton on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at Hughes Stadium.  The Pirates are under the leadership of fourth-year head coach Donovan Rose. The Pirates (2-7, 2-5) are coming off a 35-27 loss against Delaware State.  The Bears were beat 30-0 against Norfolk State at William “Dick” Price Stadium.

THE BEARS-PIRATES MATCHUP
• The Bears and Pirates will meet for the 62nd time since 1930. Morgan State leads the series 36-23-2.
•  Nov. 19, 2011 – the Bears fell, 42-18, to Hampton in a game that knocked the Bears to 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Hampton’s freshmen quarterback duo of Travis Champion and Bradford Hudson were solid. Champion completed 13-of-17 passes for 192 yards and tossed three touchdowns, while Hudson was 6-of-13 for 59 yards and threw a touchdown. MSU posted 311 total yards on offense, while the Pirates finished with 405.
• The last time the Pirates played in Hughes Stadium was on Nov. 20, 2010 … Morgan State managed just 10 first downs and 142 yards of total offense, giving up the game-winning touchdown on a 23-yard pass from David Legree to Javaris Brown with 46 seconds left in a 21-16 loss to Hampton. Morgan appeared to have had the game in hand, taking a 16-15 lead with 1:42 left on a 1-yard sneak by quarterback Delonte Williams, before allowing the Pirates to drive 78 yards on seven plays in under a minute.

QUICK HITS
• Travis Davidson currently ranks 3rd in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in rushing with 877 yards (87.7 avg/g). He also ranks No. 1 the MEAC in scoring (78 Pts).
•  QB Robert Council had a rough outing for the Bears at Norfolk State … he completed just 4 of 12 passes 38 yards, and was picked off three times, including one that was returned 15 yards by Deon King for a touchdown.
•  Cornerback Joe Rankin registered his 9th interception of his career, picking off Savannah State quarterback Antonio Bostic in the 1st quarter…He currently is tied for first in the MEAC in INTs with four in 10 games…he also ranks T-No. 3 in passes defended (10) with his freshman teammate DaShaun Summers (6 pass breakups & 2 INTs).
• The MSU defense has collected 11 interceptions (ranked No. 5 in MEAC) through the first 10 games of 2012.
•  The Bears enter Saturday’s contest as the MEAC’s No. 6 ranked scoring offense (21.2 avg/g).
•  True freshman LB Elandon Roberts currently ranks T-No. 2 in the MEAC in tackles by posting 88 tackles with one game left on the schedule. … he recorded a season-high 16 tackles against Delaware State on Oct. 25. Roberts was also added to the 2012 Jerry Rice Award Watch List. The selection puts Roberts among the top freshmen players in the country, adding further recognition to the linebacker’s outstanding first season.
•  Four of the Bears’ losses have been by a total of 10 points – an average of 2.5 points per game.

PIRATES THUMBNAIL
• The Pirates enter Week 10 coming off a 35-27 loss against Delaware State to drop to 2-7 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
• In 2011, Hampton finished with a 7-4 overall record and 5-3 in the MEAC.
• Travis Champion leads the Pirates offense this season. Champion, a 6-2, 218-pounder from Moreno Valley (Calif.) has completed 117 of 191 for 1,223 yards and eight touchdowns, including nine interceptions. He currently ranks No. 3 in passing average (174.7 and No. 6 in pass efficiency (119.4/g).
• Through the first 10 games, RB Jeremiah Schwartz (5-11, 235) is the MEAC’s leading rusher (Ranks 12^th in the FCS). The true freshman from Orlando (Fla.) has recorded 167 carries for 930 yards (5.6 avg), including nine TDs.  He rushed for a game-high 136 yards against Delaware State last Saturday. He has rushed for over 100 yards in six of the last 10 games, including a 201 yard outing against Bethune-Cookman.
• MSU’s offense will have to account for the Pirates’ linebacker Delbert Tyler. The junior currently ranks among the league leaders with 75 tackles (ranks 7th), to go along with 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks … he had a season-high 14 tackle outing against Bethune-Cookman.
• The Bears’ defensive unit will face a Hampton line that ranks No. 5 in the league in rushing by averaging 138.9 per contest.
• Through 10 games, the Pirates offense ranks 7^th in the MEAC in scoring by posting 21.2 points per contest and ranks 5th in total offense (322.1/g).

JUICE UPDATE
• Travis Davidson needs to gain 35 rushing yards to surpass Craig Nelson at No. 9 on the school’s all-time rushing list. “Juice” currently has 1,563 career rushing yards.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK
•  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.
•  Quarterback Robert Council needs just 25 yards to reach 1,000 passing yards for the season.
•  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.

NOVEMBER CHILL
The Bears are 10-20 in November games since the start of the 2002 season and 3-8 at home that month.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Coppin State seniors Michael Harper and Tony Gallo were each named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 15 team as selected by the member coaches of the NABC.

Harper was named to the first team and Gallo was named to the second team.

Harper averaged 11.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game and led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference shooting 41.7 percent from the three-point line. He was second on the team with 68 three-point baskets and also shot 73.8 percent from the free throw line.

Gallo was honored on the second team after leading the Eagles averaging 17.1 points per game. He led the Eagles in scoring, three-point baskets, free throws made and assists.

Joining Harper on the first team was Kyle O’Quinn of Norfolk State, Darrion Pellum of Hampton and Dewayne Jackson and Kevin Thompson of Morgan State.

The second team was comprised of Gallo, Chris McEachin of Norfolk State, Dominique Sutton of North Carolina Central, Brandon Riley of South Carolina State and Garrius Holloman of Bethune-Cookman.

Honorable Mention: Boxing-Orlando Salido vs. Juan Manuel Lopez (Saturday 10pm from San Juan, Puerto Rico live on Showtime); Mixed Martial Arts: Bellator Fighting Championships 60 (Friday 8pm from Hammond, IN live on MTV2); Soccer: MISL Eastern Division Final-Rochester Lancers @ Baltimore Blast (Saturday 7:35pm 1st Mariner Arena, Leg 2 Monday 7pm in Rochester); Tennis: ATP Tour/WTA Tour BNP Paribas Open (Saturday-Monday 2pm from Indian Wells, CA live on Tennis Channel); Charm City Roller Girls (Saturday 5:30pm Du Burns Arena)

10. Black Keys/Arctic Monkeys (Friday 8pm Verizon Center); Boyce Avenue (Wednesday 6:30pm Rams Head Live), Pat Green (Friday 8pm Rams Head Live), moe. (Saturday 8pm Rams Head Live), Orgy (Sunday 6:30pm Rams Head Live); Cris Jacobs Band (Friday 8pm 8×10 Club), Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers (Saturday 8pm 8×10 Club); Kindred the Family Soul (Friday 7:30pm Baltimore Soundstage); Playing for Change Band (Wednesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Mutemath (Saturday 7pm 9:30 Club), Young The Giant/Grouplove (Sunday 7pm 9:30 Club); Experience Hendrix feat. Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Tuesday 8pm Strathmore); Travis Tritt (Tuesday 7:30pm Birchmere); North Mississippi All-Stars (Saturday 9pm State Theatre); Bruce Springsteen “Wrecking Ball” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

The Black Keys sold out the Verizon Center. That’s amazing. I’ll most look forward to the part where the place that usually houses smelly Caps fans turns into one large Phoenix Coyotes rally…

Boyce Avenue is not an act I should ever voluntarily admit to enjoying. I should ABSOLUTELY never admit to enjoying their cover of Rihanna’s “Umbrella”…

The PFC band is fantastic. You’ll probably remember this…

Young The Giant authored perhaps the single most underrated song of 2011…

9. Bill Bellamy (Thursday-Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Kevin Pollak (Thursday-Saturday Magooby’s Joke House); Todd Glass (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); Baltimore St. Patrick’s Day Parade/Shamrock 5K (Sunday 1:15pm Inner Harbor/Downtown Baltimore); “Friends With Kids” opens in theaters (Friday)

One-I love a good St. Patty’s Day throw down a week before the 17th. In honor of that, I think I’ll make a stop at the Tilted Kilt in White Marsh after the parade…

Note: I’m aware that’s a Scotish thing. It’s late. I’m tired.

Note 2: Does it really matter anyway?

And since we’re here, I actually think “Friends With Kids” has a bit of a “watchable chick flick” feel. It also has Jon Hamm. As in THIS Jon Hamm…

2011-12 MORGAN STATE BASKETBALL
Game 29
Tuesday, March 6, 2012 – 11 a.m. (EST)
No. 9 Morgan State (9-19, 6-10 MEAC) vs. No. 8 Hampton Pirates (10-20, 6-10 MEAC)
Winston-Salem, N.C. – Lawrence Joel Memorial Veterans
Live Stats/Video Feed – http://www.meachoops.com/tournament/live/

BEAR FACTS
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman
Alma Mater/Year: Rhode Island/1986
Record at MSU/Year: 110-82/6th
Career Record: 145-144   
Basketball SID:  Leonard L. Haynes IV

GAME TIME
•   No. 9 seed Morgan State (9-19, 6-10 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) travels to Winston-Salem and Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum to compete in the 2012 MEAC Tournament. The Bears will open tournament play on Tuesday, March 6 in the 11 a.m. ET First Round matchup against No. 8 seed Hampton. The contest will be a rematch of the 2011 Tournament Championship game in which the Pirates defeated MSU 60-55. For more Tournament information go to www.meachoops.com.

THE PATH TO THE FINALS
•   Should Morgan State win Tuesday’s First Round contest, it would advance to a Quarterfinals matchup against No. 1 seed Savannah State set for Wednesday, March 7 at 6 p.m.

•   With a win, the Bears would advance to the Semifinals set for Friday, March 9 at 6 p.m.

•   With a victory in the Semifinals the Bears would advance to its fifth straight Championship Final.

•   The Final is set for Saturday, March 10 at 1 p.m. and will be nationally televised on ESPN2.

BEAR BITS
•   No. 9 Morgan will enter the MEAC Tournament next week as one of the hottest teams in the league having won four of its last five games, including its last two.

•   At 9-19, the Bears finished with its fewest wins since recording a 4-26 record during the 2005-06 season under head coach Alfred “Butch” Beard.

• Morgan State had four players score in double-figures and Justin Black converted 4 of 4 free throws in the final 24 seconds to help the Bears beat Florida A&M 74-68 on Thursday night. Aric Brooks led the Bears with 15 points, while Justin Black had 12, and DeWayne Jackson and Shaquille Duncan added 10 apiece.

• At Florida A&M, Morgan State shot 68 percent (17-25) from the field in the first half and finished the game by making 23-of-43 (53 percent), and was 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.

• MSU’s 91 points against the Eagles were the most points the Bears have scored this season, and also the most points scored by the Bears since defeating Florida A&M 94-68 on Feb. 7, 2010.

• Freshman guard Blake Bozeman had a season-high 14 points  and hit 4 of 6 3-pointers during the Bears win at Delaware State.

• The Bears have used seven (8) different starting lineups in their first 28 games.

• Redshirt sophomore Ian Chiles (7-foot-2) is the first 7-footer since MSU legend Marvin Webster to grace the campus of Morgan State University … Chiles, a Cliffside Park, N.J. product, is currently averaging 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks so far this season.

• The Bears completed the 2010-11 season with a 17-14 mark and posted a 10-6 conference record.

• Morgan State was selected to win the MEAC Regular Season Title, edging out last year’s MEAC Tournament Champion Hampton. The Bears received eight (8) first place votes and a totaled 616 points to take hold of the conference’s top spot going into the season.

BEARS BID FAREWELL TO FOUR SENIORS 
• The Morgan State men’s basketball program recognized four seniors who have helped accumulate several lofty achievements during their tenures. PG Larry Bastfield, G/F Aric Brooks, F Ameer Ali and F/C Kevin Thompson will be playing in their final MEAC Tournament.

A BEARS WIN WOULD…
•  Give the Bears a 12-3  (.800 pct.) record in Mid-Eastern Athletic Tournament games

•  Give Todd Bozeman his 111th victory as MSU’s head coach.

• Give the Bears its first neutral court victory of the season and its sixth victory outside of the confines of Hill Field House.

• Give the Bears its 13th win against Hampton.

• Give senior Kevin Thompson his ninth Tournament victory in 10 appearances

THE SERIES VS. THE PIRATES
• Tuesday morning’s game will be the 33rd meeting between Morgan State and Hampton in men’s basketball. The Pirates hold a 21-11 all-time record against the Bears.

•  The Bears have won four of the last six meetings against the Pirates, with one of the losses coming against Hampton during the 2011 MEAC championship game.

•  MSU’s Last Outing vs. Hampton – Christopher Tolson hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final minute to help seal a 68-63 win in an ESPNU televised matchup at the HU Convocation Center on Jan. 30. Tolson scored 19 points to lead the Pirates, who took control of the game late in the second half and withstood last second baskets by MSU’s Larry Bastfield. The Bears led for most of the game and held a 31-28 halftime advantage despite sporadic play by both teams.

NOTE ON THE PIRATES
•  Hampton’s last game in the MEAC Tournament was against the Bears in the Finals. The Pirates got some timely baskets from Darrion Pellum to help Hampton beat the Bears 60-55 in the MEAC Tournament Championship game at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Darrion Pellum was named to the Most Valuable Player of the tournament

•  Hampton has lost five of its last six games, including a loss on Saturday against Coppin State.

•  Senior All-MEAC guard Darrion Pellum continues to be one of the top scorers in the league. The senior led the MEAC in the season by averaging 18.1 points and is shooting 36.1 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from 3-point territory. The Hampton, Va. native is also averaging 4.2 rebounds per game and 1.7 assists.

•  Hampton completed the regular season ranked No. 7 in the MEAC averaging 38.2 rebounds per game, and ranked No. 3 in the league in offensive rebounds (36.9/g).

WELCOME TO MY BLOCK PARTY
Morgan State finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in the MEAC in blocked shots by averaging 4.5 blocks per game.

BROOKS RISING
Senior swingman Aric Brooks has been the Bears’ leading scorer over the course of the last several games. The Baltimore product has averaged 13.1 ppg on 52 percent shooting during a seven-game stretch and has scored in double-figures in 6 of the last 7 games, including a career-high 19-point performance at Coppin State on Feb. 22. Brooks is currently averaging 7.9 ppg.

CLOSE CALLS
Morgan State has definitely had its share of close losses this season. Of MSU’s 19 losses, nine have come by four points or less and five have been decided by one point. The average margin of defeat in those games is 2 points. The only win they recorded in a game decided by four points or less was when they defeated Delaware State 73-72 in Dover on Feb. 27. Heading into the MEAC Tournament on Tuesday the Bears are forgetting the frustration and focusing on the confidence that came from those games.

NORFOLK, Va. — Coppin State senior Tony Gallo has been selected to the Mid-Eastern Athletic All-Conference First Team and freshman Taariq Cephas was named to the All-Rookie Team the league announced on Sunday as selected by the conference head coaches and sports information directors.

Gallo was joined on the first team by Player of the Year Kyle O’Quinn of Norfolk State, Darrion Pellum of Hampton, Jay Threatt of Delaware State and Dominique Sutton of North Carolina Central.

Gallo was the Eagles most consistent player during the season and led the team averaging 17.0 points per game and 78 three-point baskets. He also averaged 3.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.

He reached double figures in scoring in 24 games this season and topped 20 points in 13 different games.

Cephas earned All-Rookie honors after averaging 5.7 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. He also shot 39.7 percent from the three-point line and averaged 2.4 assists per game.

Coppin State will open MEAC Tournament play on Tuesday (March 6) against Florida A&M at 9 p.m. in the Lawrence Joel Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.

He was joined on the All-Rookie Team by Rookie of the Year Tahj Tate of Delaware State, Tyshawn Bell of Delaware State, Prince Okoroh of Howard and Ishaq Pitt of Maryland Eastern Shore.

The all-conference second team was comprised of Ray Willis of North Carolina Central, Tate of Delaware State and Marques Oliver, Chris McEachin of Norfolk State and Deric Rudolph and Rashad Hassan of Savannah State.

O’Quinn was also named the Defensive Player of the Year and Horace Broadnax of Savannah State was named the Coach of the Year.

2011-12 MORGAN STATE BASKETBALL
Game 28
Thursday, March 1, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Morgan State (8-19, 5-10 MEAC) at Florida A&M (8-21, 6-9 MEAC)
Tallahassee, Fla. – Al Lawson Center

BEAR FACTS
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman
Alma Mater/Year: Rhode Island/1986
Record at MSU/Year: 109-82/6th
Career Record: 144-144  
Basketball SID:  Leonard L. Haynes IV

GAME TIME
•   Morgan State will travel south to take on the Florida A&M Rattlers in a regular season finale on Thursday, March 1 set to tip at 7:30 p.m. MSU, winners of three of its last four games, will attempt to build upon a 73-72 win Monday at Delaware State. Florida A&M will look to snap a two-game losing streak when they host the Bears.

BEAR BITS
• With 1.1 seconds left in the game, Aric Brooks toed the line and hit both free throws to give the Bears a 73-72 win at Memorial Hall. Blake Bozeman scored a career-high 14 points (4-6 3FG) for MSU, who shot a blistering 65 percent (30-46) and went 6-for-12 from 3-point range. Brooks, Chiles and Justin Black each finished with 10 points.

• MSU’s 91 points against the Eagles were the most points the Bears have scored this season, and also the most points scored by the Bears since defeating Florida A&M 94-68 on Feb. 7, 2010.

• Freshman guard Blake Bozeman had a season-high 14 points  and hit 4 of 6 3-pointers during the Bears win at Delaware State.

• MSU will look to improve upon a 4-10 road record.

• At UMES, MSU struggled from the free throw line the entire game as they shot just 2 of 19 (47 percent) from the free throw line and was just 2 of 19 (10 percent) from 3-point territory.

• The Bears have used seven (8) different starting lineups in their first 27 games.

• Kevin Thompson has scored in double-digits in 15 of 27 games, and has posted six double-doubles (pts & rebs) so far this season.

• Redshirt sophomore Ian Chiles (7-foot-2) is the first 7-footer since MSU legend Marvin Webster to grace the campus of Morgan State University … Chiles, a Cliffside Park, N.J. product, is currently averaging 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks so far this season.

• The Bears completed the 2010-11 season with a 17-14 mark and posted a 10-6 conference record.

• Morgan State was selected to win the MEAC Regular Season Title, edging out last year’s MEAC Tournament Champion Hampton. The Bears received eight (8) first place votes and a totaled 616 points to take hold of the conference’s top spot going into the season.

BEARS BID FAREWELL TO FOUR SENIORS
• The Morgan State men’s basketball program recognized four seniors who have helped accumulate several lofty achievements during their tenures. PG Larry Bastfield, G/F Aric Brooks, F Ameer Ali and F/C Kevin Thompson will be playing in their final season.

JACKSON RETURNS TO THEFTY WAYS
Nearly all of DeWayne Jackson’s numbers improved this season from last season, with one notable: Steals. Through his first 26 games, Jackson is averaging 1.7 steals per game (No. 4 in the MEAC), up from 1.4 during the 2010-11. He has recorded 118 thefts in his career and collected a career-high 5 steals in the Bears win against Liberty in a Sears Bracketbusters matchup.

A BEARS WIN WOULD…
•  Give the Bears a 6-10 record in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

•  Give Todd Bozeman his 110th victory as MSU’s head coach.

• Give the Bears its fourth road victory of the season and its third conference road win.

• Give the Bears its 17th win against Florida A&M.

THE SERIES VS. THE RATTLERS
• Thursday night’s game will be the 51st meeting between Morgan State and Florida A&M in men’s basketball. The Bears hold a 33-16 advantage in the series since the 1987-88 season.

•  MSU has won three of the last five meetings against the Rattlers.

•  MSU’s last time at Al Lawson Center – Forward Yannick Crowder scored 15 points and Chris Watson had 11 points to lead Florida A&M to a 63-59 victory. Florida A&M recorded its first win against the Bears since January 17, 2009, and improved to 8-1 on their home court at the Al Lawson Center. Ameer Ali, who entered the game averaging 6.3 points per game, was the Bears leading scorer tonight by finishing with 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting. The junior also collected four rebounds and two steals.

NOTE ON THE RATTLERS
•  Florida A&M’s standout forward Yannick Crowder returns as one of the top rebounders in the MEAC … Crowder ranks among the league’s leaders ranked 10th by averaging 6.7 rebounds per contest.

•  The Rattlers are 5-7 at home games so far this season, their last home win was against North Carolina A&T on February 6, 2012 dropping 87-77.

•  Junior forward Amin Stevens leads the Rattlers in scoring by averaging 16 point per game. The 6-foot-6 forward also leads the team in shooting percentage (.476) and rebounding rebounding (10.5 rpg).

•  The Rattlers’ scoring offense ranks 6th in the MEAC by averaging 66.3 points per game, conversely they rank No. 11 in scoring defense, limiting teams to 74 points per game.

WELCOME TO MY BLOCK PARTY
Morgan State currently ranks No. 4 in the MEAC in blocked shots by averaging 4.5 blocks per game.

LOOKING AHEAD
MSU will travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to compete in the 2012 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.