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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

2011-12 MORGAN STATE BASKETBALL
Game 27
Monday, February 27, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Morgan State (7-19, 4-10 MEAC) at Delaware State (14-12, 11-3 MEAC)
Dover, Del. – Memorial Hall
Radio: N/A

BEAR FACTS
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman
Alma Mater/Year: Rhode Island/1986
Record at MSU/Year: 108-82/6th
Career Record: 143-144  
Basketball SID:  Leonard L. Haynes IV

GAME TIME
•   Morgan State will face the Delaware State Hornets in a rematch on Monday, Feb. 27 set to tip at 7:30 p.m. MSU will attempt to bounce back its 58-57 loss Saturday at MD-Eastern Shore. Delaware State will look to build upon a 63-46 home victory against Howard.

BEAR BITS
• 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.

• The Bears had four players score in double-figures during their one-point loss at UMES. Aric Brooks and Ian Chiles scored 11 points apiece and Kevin Thompson added 10 and Ameer Ali recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

• Freshman guard Jeremy Canty had a season-high 12 points during the Bears win at Coppin State.

• MSU will look to improve upon a 3-10 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 26 games.

• Kevin Thompson has scored in double-digits in 15 of 26 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 25 games, Jackson is averaging 1.8 steals per game (No. 5 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 5-10 record in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

•  Give Todd Bozeman his 109th victory as MSU’s head coach.

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

• Give the Bears its 48th win against Delaware State.

THE SERIES VS. THE HORNETS
• Monday night’s game will be the 88th meeting between Morgan State and DSU in men’s basketball. The Bears hold a 47- 40 advantage in the series

•  MSU has won eight of the last 10 meetings against the Hornets.

•  MSU’s last time at Memorial Hall – Delaware State defeated the Bears on Jan. 22, 2010. Jay Threat hit two free throws and Casey Walker drained a 3-pointer in the final moments to help Delaware State snap the Bears’ 3-game winning streak with a 70-65 victory Saturday night before a packed crowd at Memorial Hall. Justin Black led the Bears with 14.

NOTE ON THE HORNETS
•  DSU has won its last two games, including nine of its last 10 … the one defeat was a 57-56 non-conference loss at Gardner-Webb in a Sears Bracketbusters matchup.

•  Junior guard Tahj Tate (Hyattsville, Md.) is among the conference leaders in the scoring department. Tate ranks as the No. 5 leading scorer by averaging 16.1 points per game and is shooting 77.1 percent from the free throw line (No. 7 in MEAC).

•  DSU is the league leaders in blocked shots by averaging 6.8 blocks per contest. The Hornets also rank No. 2 in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.351) and No. 6 in field goal percentage (.425).

•  The Hornets are 4-7 in road games so far this season, but has gone 4-7 in home contests.

WELCOME TO MY BLOCK PARTY
Morgan State currently ranks No. 4 in the MEAC in blocked shots by averaging 4.6 blocks per game.

LOOKING AHEAD
MSU will travel to Tallahassee (Fla.) to take on Florida A&M on Thursday, March 1. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.