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.

BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State (4-8, 1-0) will host the Savannah State Tigers in a conference matchup at Hill Field House in Baltimore, Maryland. MSU will enter Monday night attempting to maintain the momentum of an impressive 76-60 win at home against South Carolina State. Junior guard Justin Black paced the Bears with 17 points and senior forward DeWayne Jackson added 13 points and seven assists. Savannah State (7-9, 1-1) defeated Coppin State 56-48 on Saturday at the Coppin Center. Arnold Louis led the Tigers with 16 points and a game-high 19 rebounds.

Bear Bits:

• 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 4-8 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 12 games the Bears are ranked last in the conference by shooting 58.8 percent (163-277 FT).

• The Bears, who held South Carolina State to 2 of 9 from 3-point range, have allowed an average of 72.6 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 169 points in 12 games and ranks among the MEAC’s scoring leaders ranked No. 7 (14.1 ppg).

• One area where the Bears haven’t been inconsistent is under the basket. Morgan State ranks No. 4 in the league in total rebounding at 37.7 per game, No. 3 in offensive rebounds at 36.8 and No. 2 in field goal percentage at 43.6.

• 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 3 of the last four games.

• DeWayne Jackson is ranked among the top theft artists in school history. Jackson has collected 145 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 43 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.

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 (1,325, 444 rebs., 146 asts) needs 29 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 .552 (115-93) after 208 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 12 games of the season, three Bears average more than 12 points a game DeWayne Jackson leads with 14.1 points per game, while Justin Black is averaging 12.5 ppg. Anthony Hubbard is averaging 13 points and 6.8 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 14.1 points (ranked No. 7), 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists (ranked No. 10) and 2.4 steals (ranked No. 1) per game. Jackson has also registered 10 blocks. He has recorded 11 double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 32-point effort at Virginia (Dec. 19).

CONTROLLING THE GLASS
The Bears have only out-rebounded 4 of their first 12 opponents so far this season. In fact, the Bears have gone 4-0 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.

Game Dates: Jan. 5, 2013
Opponent: Saint Joseph’s Hawks
Site: Hill Field House, Baltimore, Md.
Game Time: 4 p.m.
MSU Coach: Todd Bozeman (114-92 – 7th yr)
Websites: MorganStateBears.com/SJUHawks.com

BALTIMORE, Md. —  Morgan State will take on the Saint Joseph’s Hawks in a non-conference matchup at Hill Field House in Baltimore, Maryland. MSU will enter the contest to bounce back from a 66-63 loss at San Diego in which junior guard Justin Black paced the Bears with 16 points. MSU will be attempting to snap a four game losing skid. Saint Joseph’s (7-4) recorded a 63-49 decision at Drexel on Dec. 31 in Philadelphia, Pa. C.J. Aiken led the Hawks with 19 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots.

BEAR BITS:
• After opening the season with a 71 point effort in a win against UTSA, the Bears have gone 3-7 while averaging 67 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 10 games the Bears are shooting 59 percent (143-242 FT).

• The Bears, who held VMI to 9 of 32 from 3-point range, have allowed an average of 74.1 points and opponents are shooting 33 percent from 3-point territory.

• Morgan State shot a season-high 52.8 percent at South Carolina and a season best 65.0 percent from the stripe, with 11 steals.

• DeWayne Jackson has scored 140 points in 10 games and ranks among the MEAC’s scoring leaders ranked No. 7 (14.0 ppg).

• One area where the Bears haven’t been inconsistent is under the basket. Morgan State ranks No. 3 in the league in total rebounding at 34.9 per game, No. 3 in offensive rebounds at 36.6 and No. 1 in field goal percentage at 45.6.

• 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 enters the LMU Holiday Classic game looking to bounce back from a 2 point effort at Virginia.

• DeWayne Jackson is ranked among the top theft artists in school history. Jackson has collected 136 steals with the Bears steals with the Bears and currently ranks No. 5. The school record for career steals is held by Terrence Wright (1992-96) with 186 career steals … Jackson is 52 steals away from becoming the school’s new leader.

LAST TIME OUT VS. SAINT JOSEPH’S
Morgan State entered the game with more size than Saint Joseph’s, but it was the Hawks’ quickness that helped hand the Bears a loss on December 28 2011 at Hagan Arena. Saint Joseph’s (10-3) improved to 7-0 at home and head coach Phil Martelli became the school’s all-time coaching leader with 310 wins. The Hawks dominated MSU 81-50 behind Carl Jones’ game-high 16 points and Halil Kanacevic’s 12 assists to go along with eight rebounds, seven blocked shots. MSU connected on just 18 of 70 shots (25.7 percent) and shot 17 percent from 3-point territory, while SJU combined to shoot 33 of 64  (51.6 percent) from the field.  Ian Chiles and freshman guard Blake Bozeman led the Bears with 10 points apiece.

MORGAN STATE VS. ATLANTIC 10
Morgan State is 1-7 vs. the A10 Conference. The Bears fell 81-50 at Saint Joseph’s in the first ever meeting between the teams. MSU holds the following records against the A10: vs. LaSalle 1-3; vs. George Washington 0-1; and 0-1 vs. Xavier.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS
The Hawks welcome back 12 veterans — five starters — from a squad that posted a 20-14 overall record, finished 5th in the A10 with a 9-7 ledger. Senior guard Carl Jones leads Saint Joseph’s averaging 15.4 points and is shooting 36 percent from 3-point territory. Junior guard Langston Galloway (14.9 ppg) and junior forward C.J. Aiken are also averaging double-figures (12.5 ppg). Head coach Phil Martelli (Widener ’76) enters his 18th season as the Hawks head coach and he currently holds a 327-227 (.590) 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.

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 (1,296, 430 rebs., 139 asts) needs 68 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 .553 (114-92) after 204 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 nine games of the season, three Bears average more than 12 points a game. DeWayne Jackson leads with 14.0 points per game.Anthony Hubbard is averaging 13.7 points and 7.2 rebounds on the boards, while Justin Black is averaging 12.8 ppg.

JACKSON DOING A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING EARLY ON
Senior DeWayne Jackson is filling the stat sheet in the early season, averaging 14.0 points (ranked No. 7), 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists (ranked No. 12) and 2.4 steals (ranked No. 2) per game. Jackson has also registered eight blocks. He has recorded nine double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 32-point effort at Virginia (Dec. 19).

BLACK & DUNCAN ACTIVE OFF THE BENCH
Junior Justin Black and sophomore Shaquille Duncan are key contributors off the Bears bench. Both are high-energy players with the ability to ignite the team. Black played a big role in Morgan State’s win over Liberty by almost posting a triple-double. He finished the game with 12 rebounds, nine points and nine assists. He currently ranks third on the team in scoring (12.4) and is averaging 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 31.8 minutes per game.
Duncan has played in every game, averaging 22.8 minutes per game. He led the Bears to an overtime victory at VMI where he posted a career-high 17 points and 14 rebounds with three blocks. He’s averaging 6.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and ranks No. 4 in the MEAC by averaging 2.3 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
The Bears will open the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schedule when they host the South Carolina State Bulldogs at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12 at Hill Field House.

Game Dates: Dec. 27 & 29, 2012
Opponent: Loyola Marymount, San Diego
Site: Los Angeles, Calif./San Diego, Calif.
Game Time: LMU 7 p.m. (PT)/San Diego 7:30 p.m. (PT)
MSU Coach: Todd Bozeman (114-90 – 7th yr)
Websites: MorganStateBears.com/ LMULions.com/USDToreros.com

BALTIMORE, Md. — Morgan State men’s basketball team will play a pair of holiday games on the west coast just before the New Year. The Loyola Marymount Lions will host Morgan State in the 2nd Annual LMU Holiday Classic on Thursday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. in Los Angeles, Calif. The Bears will also face the San Diego Toreros on Saturday, Dec. 29 as part of the Classic.

Bear Bits:

• After opening the season with a 71 point effort in a win against UTSA, the Bears have gone 3-5 while averaging 68 points and 45 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 eight games the Bears are shooting 59 percent (120-203 FT).

• The Bears, who held VMI to 9 of 32 from 3-point range, have allowed an average of 74.5 points and opponents are shooting 33 percent from 3-point territory.

• Morgan State shot a season-high 52.8 percent at South Carolina and a season best 65.0 percent from the stripe, with 11 steals.

• DeWayne Jackson has scored 119 points in eight games and ranks among the MEAC’s scoring leaders ranked No. 5 (14.9 ppg).

• One area where the Bears haven’t been inconsistent is under the basket. Morgan State ranks No. 3 in the league in total rebounding at 34.9 per game, No. 3 in offensive rebounds at 36.6 and No. 1 in field goal percentage at 45.6.

• 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 enters the LMU Holiday Classic game looking to bounce back from a 2 point effort at Virginia.

• DeWayne Jackson is ranked among the top theft artists in school history. Jackson has collected 136 steals with the Bears steals with the Bears and currently ranks No. 5. The school record for career steals is held by Terrence Wright (1992-96) with 186 career steals … Jackson is 52 steals away from becoming the school’s new leader.

MORGAN STATE VS. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 
Morgan State hold a 2-0 record against Loyola Marymount in school history. The Bears defeated the Lions 81-79 in the 2010-11 season-opener at Gersten Pavilion, and dropped LMU 69-45 at Hill Feild House on Dec. 27, 2011.

MORGAN STATE VS. THE WCC
Morgan State is 2-0 vs. the West Coast Conference by posting two wins against Loyola Marymount.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
The Lions welcome back eight veterans — three starters — from a squad that posted a 21-13 overall record, finished 4th in the WAC with a 11-5 mark. Anthony Ireland leads LMU averaging 20.3 points and is shooting 40 percent from 3-point territory. Ashley Hamilton is also averaging double-figures (14.4 ppg) and leads the squad on the boards with 7.7 rebounds. Head coach Max Good (Eastern Kentucky ’69) enters his fifth season as the Lions head coach and he currently holds a 58-82 record.

MORGAN STATE VS. SAN DIEGO 

Morgan State will play San Diego for the first time in school history.

SCOUTING THE TOREROS

The Toreros welcome back nine veterans — five starters — from a squad that posted a 13-18 overall record, finished 6th in the WCC with a 7-9 ledger.  Sophomore guard Johnny Dee leads San Diego averaging 14.3 points and is shooting 41 percent from 3-point territory. Senior forward Ken Rancifer is also averaging double-figures (10.2 ppg) and is averaging 5.0 rebounds. Head coach Bill Grier (Oregon ’90) enters his sixth season as the Toreros head coach and he currently holds a 74-101 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.

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).

ROAD WARRIORS
Morgan State, which played its first eight games on the road, has won 17 of its past 30 games held away from Hill Field House, including a 1-2 mark on neutral courts. The Bears finished 5-10 in true road contests and 0-3 on neutral floors in 2011-12 and posted a 4-4 road conference ledger, which was its worst mark since Todd Bozeman took over the program in 2006. This season’s schedule will send MSU on the road for 10 of its first 11 games, including a six-game road trip from Nov. 29-Dec. 29 that features contests in three different time zones. The Bears are guaranteed at least 19 games away from home this season.

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 (1,275, 422 rebs., 133 asts) needs just 18 points to surpass Jason McCoy (1,292 points – 1987-91) to become the school’s No. 12 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 .561 (114-89) after 202 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.
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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
n the first eight games of the season, three Bears average more than 12 points a game. DeWayne Jackson leads the squad in offensively with 14.9 points per game and in steals with 2.5 rpg. Anthony Hubbard is contributing 13.9 ppg and Justin Black is averaging 12.1 ppg.

JACKSON DOING A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING EARLY ON
Senior DeWayne Jackson is filling the stat sheet in the early season, averaging 14.9 points (ranked No. 5), 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.5 steals (ranked No. 2) per game. Jackson has also registered three blocks. He has recorded seven double-digit scoring games, including a 32-point effort at Virginia (Dec. 19).

BLACK & DUNCAN ACTIVE OFF THE BENCH
Junior Justin Black and sophomore Shaquille Duncan are key contributors off the Bears bench. Both are high-energy players with the ability to ignite the team. Black played a big role in Morgan State’s win over Liberty by almost posting a triple-double. He finished the game with 12 rebounds, nine points and nine assists. He currently ranks third on the team in scoring (12.1) and is averaging 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.6 minutes per game.
Duncan has played in every game, averaging 23.5 minutes per game. He led the Bears to an overtime victory at VMI where he posted a career-high 17 points and 14 rebounds with three blocks. He’s averaging 6.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and ranks No. 4 in the MEAC by averaging 2.3 blocks per game.

Wedneday, Dec. 19, 2012
Opponent: Virginia Cavaliers (8-2)
Site: John Paul Jones Arena (14,593), Charlottesville, Va.
Game Time: 7 p.m. (ET)
Television: N/A
Internet Broadcast: ESPN3
MSU Coach: Todd Bozeman (114-89 – 7th yr)
Websites: MorganStateBears.com/Virginiasports.com

BALTIMORE, Md. —  Morgan State will take on the Virginia Cavaliers in a non-conference matchup at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Bears will enter the contest looking to bounce back from a loss at Illinois State in which junior guard Justin Black paced the Bears with 21 points. Virginia (8-2) extended to a 7-game winning streak as a result of a 67-39 home win against Mississippi Valley State. The Bears-Cavaliers game will be streamed live by ESPN3.

Bear Bits:
• An MSU win would give Todd Bozeman his 115th victory in his 204th game as Morgan State’s head coach.

• After opening the season with a 71 point effort in a win against UTSA, the Bears have gone 3-4 while averaging 70 points and 45 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 seven games the Bears are shooting 58 percent (108-185 FT).

• The Bears, who held VMI to 9 of 32 from 3-point range, have allowed an average of 74.4 points and opponents are shooting 33 percent from 3-point territory.

• Morgan State shot a season-high 52.8 percent at South Carolina and a season best 65.0 percent from the stripe, with 11 steals.

• Anthony Hubbard has scored 109 points in seven games and ranks among the MEAC’s scoring leaders ranked No. 3 (15.5 ppg).

• One area where the Bears haven’t been inconsistent is under the basket. Morgan State ranks No. 1 in the league in total rebounding at 34.3 per game, No. 1 in offensive rebounds at 38.9 and No. 1 in field goal percentage at 45.5.

• 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 enters the Virginia game following a career-high 21 points at Illinois State on Sunday.

• Shaquille Duncan played the role of ‘Chairman of the Boards’ at VMI. Seven of Duncan’s game-high 14 rebounds came on the offensive end, and he finished with a career-high 17 points (8-8); both of which were career-highs…he also recorded three blocked shots.

• DeWayne Jackson is ranked among the top theft artists in school history. Jackson has collected 136 steals with the Bears and needs 19 more steals to move in front of Randy Hampton (108, 1984-88) to become the school’s No. 3 ranked theft artist.  The school record for career steals is held by Terrence Wright (1992-96) with 186 career steals … Jackson is just 52 steals away from becoming the school’s new leader.

MORGAN STATE VS. THE ACC
Morgan State is 1-13 vs. Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. The Bears registered a historic 66-65 victory at Maryland on January 7, 2009, marking its first and only victory against the ACC. The Bears finished the season with an 23-12 record and won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

SCOUTING THE CAVALIERS
The Cavaliers welcome back eight veterans — four starters — from a squad that posted a 22-10 overall record, finished T-4th in the ACC with a 9-7 ledger, and advanced to the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament. Joe Harris leads the Cavaliers averaging 14.8 points and is shooting 43 percent from 3-point territory. Akil Mitchell is also averaging double-figures (13.4 ppg) and leads the squad on the boards with 9.2 rebounds. Head coach Tony Bennett (Green Bay ’92) enters his fourth season as the Cavaliers head coach and he currently holds a 62-43 record.

FIRST THREE PART OF ODU TOURNAMENT
The first three games of the regular season made the Liberty Tax Classic on the Morgan State schedule. The Bears defeated the University of Texas at San Antonio (W 71-59), and fell to Old Dominion (L 72-61), and Holy Cross (L, 74-73) in the event hosted by Old Dominion at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Morgan State senior swingman DeWayne Jackson was selected to the Liberty Tax Classic All-Tournament Team as a result of his performance during a weekend in which he averaged 14 points, 5.7 rebounds 3.7 assists with three steals.

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).

ROAD WARRIORS
Morgan State, which played its first six games on the road, has won 17 of its past 29 games held away from Hill Field House, including a 1-2 mark on neutral courts. The Bears finished 5-10 in true road contests and 0-3 on neutral floors in 2011-12 and posted a 4-4 road conference ledger, which was its worst mark since Todd Bozeman took over the program in 2006. This season’s schedule will send MSU on the road for 10 of its first 11 games, including a six-game road trip from Nov. 29-Dec. 29 that features contests in three different time zones. The Bears are guaranteed at least 19 games away from home this season.

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 (1,243, 422 rebs., 133 asts) needs just 27 points to surpass Anthony Young (1,269 points – 1975-79) to become the school’s No. 13 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 .561 (114-89) after 202 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 seven games of the season, three Bears average more than 12 points a game. Anthony Hubbard leads both offensively with 15.6 points per game and on the boards with 7.6 rpg. Justin Black is contributing 13.1 ppg and DeWayne Jackson is averaging 12.4 ppg.

FAST START TO HUBBARD’S JUNIOR SEASON
Junior Anthony Hubbard has provided a consistent scoring presence for Bears in his first season. He currently ranks No. 2 in the MEAC in scoring (15.5) and ranks No. 5 in rebounding (7.3) while also ranking among the top 10 in offensive rebounds (5th, 3.2), defensive rebounds (T-11th, 4.2) and minutes (5th, 34.3) Hubbard has scored 13 or more points in the Bears first six games, including two double-double performances. Hubbard has scored in double-figures in every game so far this season.

JACKSON DOING A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING EARLY ON
Senior DeWayne Jackson is filling the stat sheet in the early season, averaging 12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists (ranked No. 7) and 2.9 steals (ranked No. 1) per game. Jackson has also registered three blocks. He has recorded six double-digit scoring games, including a 15-point effort at VMI (Dec. 1).

THIEVING BEARS
Morgan State’s defense has forced an average of 15.9 turnovers in its first seven games. Morgan State forced 20 turnovers and grabbed 11 steals against the South Carolina Gamecocks (Nov. 16), led by DeWayne Jackson‘s five thefts. Jackson has at least three steals in five of the first seven games this season. Morgan State’s 54 steals (7.7 avg) currently ranks 7th in the MEAC.

UP NEXT
The Bears will travel to face Loyola Marymount at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 27 in Los Angeles, California.

Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012
Opponent: Illinois State (6-3)
Site: Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, Normal, Ill.
Game Time: 5:30 p.m. (ET)
MSU Coach: Todd Bozeman (114-88 – 7th yr)
Websites: MorganStateBears.com/goredbirds.com

BALTIMORE, Md. —  Morgan State will take on the Illinois State Redbirds in a non-conference matchup at Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena in Normal (Ill.). The Bears will enter the contest looking to extend its two-game winning streak as a result of wins against Liberty (67-62) and VMI (81-80 OT). Illinois State (6-3) is coming off an 85-63 win against Western Michigan at the Mountain West-MVC Challenge. The Bears-Redbirds game will be streamed live at goredbirds.com/allaccess.

Bear Bits:
• An MSU win would give Todd Bozeman his 115th victory in his 203rd game as Morgan State’s head coach.

• After opening the season with a 71 point effort in a win against UTSA, the Bears have gone 3-3 while averaging 70.7 points and 45.8 percent shooting.

• Morgan State, who shot 67.6 percent from the line last season, and continues to sputter from the stripe … through the first six games the Bears are shooting 57 percent (90-157 FT).

• The Bears, who held VMI to 9 of 32 from 3-point range, have allowed an average of 72.3 points and opponents are shooting 33 percent from 3-point territory.

• Morgan State shot a season-high 52.8 percent at South Carolina and a season best 65.0 percent from the stripe, with 11 steals.

• Anthony Hubbard has scored 93 points in six games and ranks among the MEAC’s scoring leaders ranked T-No. 4 (15.5 ppg).

• One area where the Bears haven’t been inconsistent is under the basket. Morgan State ranks No. 2 in the league in total rebounding at 34.3 per game, No. 1 in offensive rebounds at 39.7 and No. 1 in field goal percentage at 45.8.

• Justin Black was just shy of posting a triple-double Thursday night at Liberty. The junior guard finished with a career-high 12 rebounds to go along with nine points and nine assists.

• Shaquille Duncan played the role of ‘Chairman of the Boards’ at VMI. Seven of Duncan’s game-high 14 rebounds came on the offensive end, and he finished with a career-high 17 points (8-8); both of which were career-highs…he also recorded three blocked shots.

• DeWayne Jackson is ranked among the top theft artists in school history. Jackson has collected 132 steals with the Bears and needs just two more steals to move in front of Lorenzo Hutchinson (118, 1996-98) to become the school’s No. 4 ranked theft artist.  The school record for career steals is held by Terrence Wright (1992-96) with 186 career steals … Jackson is just 56 steals away from becoming the school’s new leader.

MORGAN STATE VS. MISSOURI VALLEY
Morgan State is 0-2 vs. Missouri Valley opponents. The Bears were defeated at Creighton 84-69, followed by an 87-69 loss at Drake during the 1989-90 season under MSU head coach Nathaniel Taylor. The Bears finished the season with an 8-20 record.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE
The Redbirds welcome back nine veterans — three starters — from a squad that posted a 21-14 overall record and finished T-3rd in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 9-9 ledger. Tyler Brown leads the Redbirds averaging 19.2 points and is shooting 50 percent from the field. Jackie Carmichael is also averaging double-figures (16.2 ppg) and leads the squad on the boards with 7 rebounds. Head coach Dan Muller (Illinois State ’98) enters his first season as the Redbirds head coach and currently holds a 6-3 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.

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).

ROAD WARRIORS
Morgan State, which played its first six games on the road, has won 17 of its past 28 games held away from Hill field House, including a 1-2 mark on neutral courts. The Bears finished 5-10 in true road contests and 0-3 on neutral floors in 2011-12 and posted a 4-4 road conference ledger, which was its worst mark since Todd Bozemantook over the program in 2006. This season’s schedule will send MSU on the road for 10 of its first 11 games, including a six-game road trip from Nov. 29-Dec. 29 that features contests in three different time zones. The Bears are guaranteed at least 19 games away from home this season.

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 (1,235, 417 rebs.,132 asts) needs just 35 points to surpass Anthony Young (1,269 points – 1975-79) to become the school’s No. 13 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 Pretlowwas 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 .564 (114-88) after 202 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 five games of the season, three Bears average more than 12 points a game. Anthony Hubbard leads both offensively with 15.5 points per game and on the boards with 7.2 rpg. Justin Black is contributing 13 ppg and DeWayne Jackson is averaging 12.8 ppg.

FAST START TO HUBBARD’S JUNIOR SEASON
Junior Anthony Hubbard has provided a consistent scoring presence for Bears in his first season. He currently ranks No. 2 in the MEAC in scoring (15.5) and ranks No. 5 in rebounding (7.3) while also ranking among the top 10 in offensive rebounds (5th, 3.2), defensive rebounds (T-11th, 4.2) and minutes (5th, 34.3)
Hubbard has scored 13 or more points in the Bears first six games, including two double-double performances.
Hubbard has scored in double-figures in every game so far this season.

JACKSON DOING A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING EARLY ON
Senior DeWayne Jackson is filling the stat sheet in the early season, averaging 13.2 points (MEAC ranked No. 12), 5.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists (ranked No. 3) and 2.7 steals (ranked No. 2) per game. Jackson has also registered three blocks. He has recorded six double-digit scoring games, including a 15-point effort at VMI (Dec. 1).

BLACK & DUNCAN ACTIVE OFF THE BENCH
Junior Justin Black and sophomore Shaquille Duncan are key contributors off the Bears bench. Both are high-energy players with the ability to ignite the team.
Black played a big role in Morgan State’s win over Liberty by almost posting a triple-double. He finished the game with 12 rebounds, nine points and nine assists. He currently ranks third on the team in scoring (11.8) and is averaging 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 31.8 minutes per game.
Duncan has played in every game, averaging 21.3 minutes per game. He led the Bears to an overtime victory at VMI where he posted a career-high 17 points and 14 rebounds with three blocks. He’s averaging 6.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and ranks No. 3 in the MEAC by averaging 2.2 blocks per game.

THIEVING BEARS
Morgan State’s defense has forced an average of 15.8 turnovers in its first six games. Morgan State forced 20 turnovers and grabbed 11 steals against the South Carolina Gamecocks (Nov. 16), led by DeWayne Jackson‘s five thefts. Jackson has at least three steals in four of the first six games this season. Morgan State’s 45 steals (7.5 avg) currently ranks 8^th in the MEAC.

UP NEXT
The Bears will travel to face the Virginia Cavaliers at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19.

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.

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012
Opponent: University of South Carolina (1-0)
Site: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia S.C.
Game Time: 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Television: Fox Sports South
Television Talent: Andy Demetra (Play-by-Play) and Eddie Fogler (Analyst)
MSU Coach: Todd Bozeman (112-86 – 7th yr)

BALTIMORE, Md. —  Morgan State takes on the University of South Carolina in the Bears’ true first road test of the 2012-13 campaign. Morgan State will enter the contest following a weekend in which they posted a 1-2 record during the ODU Liberty Tax Classic. The Gamecocks (1-0) needed overtime to defeat Milwaukee 82-75 during the Gamecocks season-opener at Colonial Life Arena on Nov. 11. The Bears-Gamecocks game will be televised live by Fox Sports South.

Bear Bits:
• Morgan State will play the South Carolina Gamecocks for the first time in school history.

• The Bears had 10 games decided by 1-4 points during the 2011-12 season…The Bears held a 1-9 record.

• DeWayne Jackson averaged 14 points, 5.7 rebounds and shot 53 percent from the field in three games at the Liberty Tax Classic … he was selected to All-Tournament Team as a result of his performance.

• Sophomore guard Blake Bozeman has connected on 7-of-12 (.583 pct.) from 3-point territory .

• Anthony Hubbard leads the Bears in scoring by averaging 15.7 points to go along with a team-high 9.3 rebounds.

• The Bears are outrebounding opponents by an average of 39.3 to 33.3 through the first three games.

• An MSU win would give Todd Bozeman his 113th victory in his 200th games as Morgan State’s head coach.

MORGAN STATE VS. SEC
Morgan State’s last time out against an SEC opponent was at Arkansas on Nov. 24, 2009. The Bears posted a 97-94 victory and improved its record to 1-2 vs. SEC opponents.
Arkansas 1-1
Florida 0-1

SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks welcome back eight veterans — two starters — from a squad that posted a 10-21 overall record and finished 12th in the Southeastern Conference with a 2-14 ledger last season. Freshman Michael Carrera paced the Gamecock with 17 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in the win against Milwaukee. Head coach Frank Martin is 118-54 in his 6th season.

FIRST THREE PART OF ODU TOURNAMENT
The first three games of the regular season made the Liberty Tax Classic on the Morgan State schedule. The Bears defeated the University of Texas at San Antonio (W 71-59), and fell to Old Dominion (L 72-61), and Holy Cross (L, 74-73) in the event hosted by Old Dominion at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Morgan State senior swingman DeWayne Jackson was selected to the Liberty Tax Classic All-Tournament Team as a result of his performance during a weekend in which he averaged 14 points, 5.7 rebounds 3.7 assists with three steals.

FRESHMEN MAKE MORGAN STATE DEBUT IN LIBERTY TAX CLASSIC
Morgan State’s freshman class made class made its debut during the Liberty Tax Classic hosted by Old Dominion (Nov. 9-11) at Ted Constant Convocation Center. Rookies Donte Pretlow, Rasean Simpson and Cedric Blossom saw their first action as Bears. Pretlow made his debut versus University of Texas-San Antonio. He played 8 minutes and had seven points (2-2 FG) and two steals. Simpson and Blossom took the court for the first time against host Old Dominion. Simpson posted 3 points and a rebound in 3 minutes, while Blossom grabbed a board in 5 minutes of action.

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).

ROAD WARRIORS
Morgan State, which played its first three games on the road, including nine of its first 11 last season on the road, has won 15 of its past 25 games held away from the Hill Field House, including a 1-2 mark on neutral courts. The Bears finished 5-10 in true road contests and 0-3 on neutral floors in 2011-12 and posted a 4-4 road conference ledger, which was its worst mark since Todd Bozeman took over the program in 2006. This season’s schedule will send MSU on the road for 10 of its first 11 games, including a six-game road trip from Nov. 29-Dec. 29 that features contests in three different time zones. The Bears are guaranteed at least 19 games away from home this season.

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 (1,184, 396 rebs., 108 asts) needs just 8 points to surpass James Hall (1,191 points – 1963-67) to become the school’s No. 14 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 sophmore 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 .563 (112-89) after 199 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.

UP NEXT
The Bears will travel to face Liberty at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29.

GAME TIME
Morgan State (3-6, 2-4 MEAC) continues the 2012 season play in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup at Norfolk State on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at Dick Price Stadium.  The Spartans enter the 2012 season under the leadership of eight-year head coach Pete Adrian. The Spartans (3-7, 1-6) are coming off its first conference win following a 33-21 homecoming win against Savannah State. The Bears fell 24-13 at Hughes Stadium against top-ranked Bethune-Cookman.

THE BEARS-SPARATNS MATCHUP 
• The Bears and Spartans will meet for the 25th time since 1965. Norfolk State leads the series 14-10 and has won the last five meetings against MSU.

•  Nov. 12, 2011 – Morgan State took the field at Hughes Stadium Saturday still with an outside shot at a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. But after gamely battling No. 22 Norfolk State throughout the first half, the Bears saw their chances disappear with one utterly forgettable stretch to open the second half.

Morgan allowed 17 straight points in a span of 4 minutes, 26 seconds, turning a close game into a 47-14 rout before an announced 5,329.

• The last time the Bears played at William ‘Dick’ Price Stadium was on Nov. 6, 2010 … Morgan State matched Norfolk State punch for punch, before falling 37-25. Spartan quarterback Chris Walley passed for season highs of 305 yards and four touchdowns and set a single-game school record by completing 20-of-22 passes in the process.

QUICK HITS
•  Travis Davidson currently ranks 2nd in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in rushing with 851 yards (94.6 avg/g). He also ranks No. 1 the MEAC in scoring (78 Pts).

•  QB Robert Council completed 14-of-31 passes for 121 yards and ran for 16 yards against Bethune-Cookman.

•  Cornerback Joe Rankin registered his 9th interception of his career, picking off Savannah State quarterback Antonio Bostic in the 1st quarter…He currently ranks T-No. in the MEAC in INTs with four in nine games…he also ranks T-No. 4 in passes defended (10), while his freshman teammate DaShaun Summers leads the league with 1.33 average passes defended.

• Twenty-one (21) Morgan State seniors were honored before the start of last Saturday’s game against B-CU.

•  The Bears continue to be among the top scoring offenses in the league, entering Saturday’s contest as the MEAC’s No. 5 ranked scoring offense (23.6 avg/g).

•  True freshman LB Elandon Roberts currently ranks No. 2 in the MEAC in tackles by posting 83 tackles so far this season … he recorded a season-high 16 tackles against Delaware State on Oct. 25.

•  Sophomore defensive end Christopher Robinson currently leads the MEAC with seven sacks in just seven games played. He posted seven nine tackles, a forced fumble and a sack against Bethune-Cookman last Saturday.

SPARTANS THUMBNAIL
• The Wildcats enter Week 10 coming off a 33-21 Homecoming victory against Savannah State. The win snapped the Spartans’ 6-game losing streak and marked its first conference win of the season.

• In 2011, Norfolk State finished with a 9-3 overall record and 7-1 in the MEAC and captured the league championship.

• Norfolk State junior quarterback Nico Flores was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. Flores got his first start at quarterback in over a month and helped lead the Spartans to a 33-21 win over Savannah State on Saturday. Flores completed 17-of-28 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed 14 times for a career-high 116 rushing yards. Flores totaled 329 yards of total offense. This is the first weekly MEAC award of Flores’ career.

• Through the first 10 games, WR Xavier Boyce (6-4, 220) and Derrick Demps (5-11, 180) have been two of the  leading receivers in the Spartans  offensive attack. Boyce, a junior from Virginia Beach (Va.), has recorded 54 receptions for 574 yards (10.6 avg), including three TDs. Demps, a Tallahassee (Fla.) product, ranks No. 6 in the MEAC with 39 catches for 645 yards (11.2 avg) with six touchdowns.

• MSU’s offense will have to account for the Spartan linebacker Lynden Trail. The junior currently ranks among the league leaders with 66 tackles (ranks 18th), to go along with 5 sacks (ranks No. 6).

• The Bears’ defensive unit will face a Spartan offensive line that ranks No. 5 in the league in rushing by averaging 139.1 per contest.

• Through 10 games, the Norfolk State defense ranks No. 2 in the MEAC in total defense by limiting opponents to 283.8 yards per contest and ranks No.1  in pass defense (136.0/g) and No. 8 in run defense (147.8/g).

JUICE UPDATE
• Travis Davidson needs to gain 61 rushing yards to surpass Craig Nelson at No. 9 on the school’s all-time rushing list.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK
•  The Bears rushing for 100 yards or more for the ninth consecutive game this season.

•  QB Robert Council needs just 63 more passing yards to reach 1,000 yards for the season.

•  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).

•  Travis Davidson needs just 149 more rushing yards to reach 1,000 yards for the season.

NOVEMBER CHILL
The Bears are 10-19 in November games since the start of the 2002 season.

NEXT UP
After Saturday’s contest at Norfolk State, the Bears will host the Hampton Pirates at Hughes Stadium. The matchup is set for Saturday, November 17. Kickoff at 1 p.m.

BALTIMORE, Md. —  Morgan State men’s basketball team will open the 2012-13 season with a trio of games at the Liberty Tax Classic this Friday-Sunday, Nov. 9-11, in Norfolk, Va. The Bears will face the University of Texas-San Antonio at 5 p.m. on Friday, host Old Dominion at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday and Holy Cross at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Morgan State at Liberty Tax Classic
Game #1 — vs. UTSA •   5 p.m. • Friday, Nov. 9
Game #2 — vs. Old Dominion Manarchs •   7:15 p.m. • Saturday, Nov. 10
Game #3 — vs. Holy Cross Crusdaers •   4:15 p.m. • Sunday, Nov. 11
Ted Constant Convocation Center (8,472) •  Norfolk, Va.
Live Stats: odusports.com

Bear Bits:
• Morgan State will play the University of Texas at San Antonio, Old Dominion and Holy Cross for the first time in school history.

• Morgan State is 2-1 vs. Conference USA opponents. The Bears are 1-1 against East Carolina and defeated Marshall 72-67 during the 2008-09 season in their only match-up.

• Morgan State is 15-19 vs. Colonial Athletic Association opponents.  2-0 vs. Hofstra; 1-8 vs. James Madison; 12-10 vs. Towson; and 0-1 vs. William and Mary.

• Morgan State is 3-3 vs. Patriot League opponents. 3-1 vs. American and 0-2 vs. Navy

• The Bears had 10 games decided by 1-4 points during the 2011-12 season… The Bears held a 1-9 record.

• DeWayne Jackson scored a career-high 33 points against Norfolk State on Jan. 14, 2012.  He added 4 rebounds, 3 assist, 2 blocks and 2 steals.

LAST TIME OUT
Morgan State entered the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament winners of four of their last five games. However, the Bears’ struggles with converting field goals was their undoing this Tuesday afternoon. 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. The loss ended what was a tough season for head coach Todd Bozeman and his Bears.
“It’s tough to take a loss on the first day. It’s been the most challenging season I’ve ever had in my career,” said Bozeman, whose Bears finished the season 9-20.
MSU was very much in the game despite converting only four of 32 field goals in the first half. It was because of their rebounding, particularly on the offensive end.  The Bears outrebounded Hampton by a 48-35 margin that included 21 offensive boards.
The game was nip and tuck for most of the second half. Kevin Thompson (12 pts, 17 rebs) gave MSU their final lead of the game, 55-54, on a three-point play with 2:40 remaining.
Hampton (11-20) scored the next 10 points and sealed the Bears’ fate. The run started when Jasper Williams, who scored 20 points, hit an off-balanced three-pointer. Williams hurt the Bears from long range, nailing five of seven shots three-pointers. It ended on Darrion Pellum’s four consecutive free throws. The last two with 39 seconds left put the Pirates up to stay at 64-55.
Pellum led everyone with 23 points on the afternoon. But he wasn’t the sole focus for Morgan State defensively according to Bozeman.

MORGAN STATE IN SEASON OPENERS
The Bears are 17-30 in season openers since 1963-64. Todd Bozeman is 2-4 in season openers at Morgan State. The last time the Bears won a season opener was during the 2010-11 campaign when they posted an 81-79 victory at Loyola Marymount.

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 SET TO LEAD
DeWayne Jackson is the lone returning senior who saw action for Morgan State last year. In fact, he is just one of two seniors on the Bears roster. After transfer Anthony Hubbard, who transferred to Morgan State from Iowa and sat out the 2011-12 campaign, there are six (6) 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 (1,156, 384 rebs., 107 asts) needs just 14 points to supass Billy Newton (1,169 points) to become the school’s No. 16 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 sophmore 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 .566 (111-85) after 196 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.

UP NEXT
The Bears will travel to face the University of South Carolina at 7 p.m. on  Friday, Nov. 16.