2011-12 MORGAN STATE BASKETBALL
Game 22
Saturday, February 11, 2012 – 4:00 p.m. (EST)
Morgan State (5-16, 3-7 MEAC) vs. MD-Eastern Shore Hawks (5-17, 2-7 MEAC)
Baltimore, Md. – Hill Field House

BEAR FACTS
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman
Alma Mater/Year: Rhode Island/1986
Record at MSU/Year: 106-79/6th
Career Record: 141-141  
Basketball SID:  Leonard L. Haynes IV

GAME TIME
• Morgan State will face the MD-Eastern Shore on Saturday, Feb. 11 in a conference matchup set to tip at 4 p.m. MSU will attempt to snap a four-game losing streak when the Hawks come to Hill Field House. UMES will attempt to rebound from a 72-60 home loss against Norfolk State on Monday. Hillary Haley led the Hawks with 24 points and Ronald Spencer had 11 rebounds.

BEAR BITS
• MSU has won nine straight games against the Hawks since 2006.

• DeWayne Jackson scored a team-high 10 points in just 10 minutes of action, but the Bears lost their shooting touch in the second half. Morgan State made only three field goals out of 20 attempts in the last 20 minutes and Howard pulled away late in a 54-46 victory over the Bears Monday night at Hill Field House.

• Morgan State will enter Saturday night’s contest having lost four straight, including five of its last six games.

• MSU will look to improve upon a 3-5 home record.

• Kevin Thompson has scored in double-digits in 14 of 21 games, and has posted six double-doubles (pts & rebs) so far this season.

• Senior point guard Larry Bastfield is the only Bear to have started in every game (31) last season…currently he has started in 52 straight games.

• Junior swingman DeWayne Jackson currently leads the team by averaging 13.2 ppg and 3.3 rpg, including a career-high 33 points against Norfolk State on Jan. 14th.

• 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 8.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 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.

HOME COURT
During the Bozeman era the Bears have gone 46-13 (.779) home record inside the confines of Hill Field House, including a loss against Coppin State on Feb. 4.

A BEARS WIN WOULD…
•  Give the Bears a 4-7 record in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

•  Give Todd Bozeman his 107th victory as MSU’s head coach.

•   Give the Bears its fourth home victory of the season.

•   Give the Bears its 10th straight victory against MD-Eastern Shore

CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THE 1,000 PT CLUB
•  DeWayne Jackson eclipsed the 1,000 point mark for his career as a result of pouring in a career-high 33 points against Norfolk State on Jan. 14. With 1,099 points, Jackson is currently ranked No. 19 leading scorer in MSU history.

THE SERIES VS. THE HAWKS
•  Saturday night’s game will be the 80th meeting between Morgan State and UMES in men’s basketball. The Bears hold a 49-30 advantage in the series.

•  Last time vs. UMES (Feb. 22, 2011): DeWayne Jackson scored 16 points and Kevin Thompson scored 13 to help lead the Bears to a 71-54 win against MD-Eastern Shore in an ESPNU televised game at Hill Field House. The Bears were 21 of 57 (44.7 percent) from the field, including a 4-for-6 performance from Thompson, who posted his 10th double-double of the season by scoring 13 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Rodney Stokes added 14 points and posted nine rebounds, while Tola Lawal chipped in 13 points.

•  The last time UMES defeated the Bears was on Jan. 28, 2006. The Morgan State men’s basketball team came into the game looking to avoid 18 consecutive losses on the season which would result in a school record, but this failed to happen as the Bears fell 76-67 in a close game at home. Joseph McLean led the Bears with a career-high 23.

NOTE ON THE HAWKS
•  UMES has lost five of its last six games, including nine of its last 11 … the Hawks’ last win was at home against Howard where they ran away with a 78-65 victory.

•  Junior guard Percy Woods (Hyattsville, Md.) is UMES’ leader in the scoring department. Woods is currently averaging 10.4 points per game ranks No. 11 in the MEAC in assists (3.1/g).

•  UMES is among the league leaders in rebounding. The Hawks rank No. 5 in the league in rebounding margin (-0.6) and No. 6 in rebounding defense (35.5/g).

LOOKING AHEAD
MSU will face the Delaware State Hornets at Hill Field House on Monday, February 13. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Immediately following Morgan State University’s 54-46 loss to Howard University Monday night at Hill Field House, head coach Todd Bozeman announced leading scorer DeWayne Jackson had quit the team.

Jackson played ten minutes in the Bears’ loss to the Bison, scoring ten points. Jackson entered Monday Night’s game averaging 30.7 minutes per game this season for the Bears and scoring an average of 13.4 points per game. As a freshman in 2009-2010, Jackson was a double digit scorer for the Bears team that won the MEAC Championship and reached the NCAA Tournament.

Jackson’s decision to quit the team followed a bizarre second half against the Bison. Unhappy with the effort he received from his starters, Bozeman pulled all five just two minutes after intermission. He inserted five reserves, including seldom used forward Thair Heath.

Bozeman slowly re-inserted his starters into the game but left Jackson on the bench. The junior forward out of Bowie High School made his frustration apparent, glaring back at MSU’s head coach and eventually shouting at him about his continued benching. Bozeman never made any noticeable responses to Jackson’s glares or yelling.

As the second half wore on, Jackson became unwilling to participate in team huddles. During timeouts he would stand outside the team’s conversations despite the pleading of the team’s assistant coaches.

Jackson made a quick exit from the team’s locker room following the game without talking to reporters. Bozeman announced Jackson’s decision in a short meeting with reporters, noting the junior’s unwillingness to be coached in the second half. He also explained the team would “move on” with Jackson.

Morgan State fell to 5-16 (3-7 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) with the loss. They return to action Saturday when they welcome Maryland-Eastern Shore to Hill Field House.

A Morgan State who spoke to WNST.net reporter Glenn Clark after the game left open the possibility that Jackson could change his mind and return to the team.

(WNST.net’s Glenn Clark filed this report.)

2011-12 MORGAN STATE BASKETBALL

As the confetti dropped Sunday night at LucasOil Stadium in Indianapolis to punctuate the New York Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI win over the New England Patriots, a harsh reality set in throughout Charm City.

While the Baltimore Ravens were eliminated some 14 days earlier, the immediate hangover effect of an AFC Championship Game loss lingered into Super Bowl week. The significance of the Super Bowl even without the Ravens’ involvement prevented the malaise of the football offseason from setting in too quickly.

It’s here now though, and it absolutely stings.

Just as we’ve finally had enough time to get over the Ravens’ heartbreaking defeat in Foxborough, we’ve been forced to accept the fact that there really isn’t anything on the sporting horizon that we can deflect our purple energy towards. After working ourselves into a frenzy over the course of the last two months, we have basically no choice but to sit on our collective hands for the better part of the next seven months while we wait for John Harbaugh’s team to take the field once more for real.

Sure, we’ll all drink some beer and tell our favorite Earl Weaver stories on Opening Day. Most of us will throw down a few shekels on the Kentucky Derby winner on Preakness Saturday in May. We’ll be gripped to any rumors related to the Purple Birds.

The moments of excitement will be fleeting and there will certainly be no outlet for us to channel any level of sporting fervor.

Here’s the rundown on the “Reality” of the situation:

-Much of the country will immediately shift their focus to College Basketball season. In past years, an exciting University of Maryland has provided a level of excitement after football season concluded. Barring a miracle it won’t be the case this season, as the Terps sit at 3-5 in ACC play with no significant victory and none likely to come. This was to be expected in Mark Turgeon’s first season but it won’t help anyone in the area shake themselves awake from an “end of football season coma.”

One small shining light is Loyola University basketball, as the Greyhounds find themselves tied with Iona for first place in the MAAC at 11-2. This year’s team is the best Jimmy Patsos has ever had, and has a legitimate shot at the NCAA Tournament. The only cloud for the Hounds’ chances is that the Gaels certainly have more overall talent. It doesn’t mean Loyola couldn’t figure a way to a MAAC Tournament title, it’s just reality.

Coppin State entered Monday with a respectable 7-3 MEAC record and a legitimate crop of talent. Morgan State’s season has been mired by a mid-season suspension of head coach Todd Bozeman and has lead to a disappointing 3-6 conference record entering Monday. The Eagles have a semi-realistic chance of winning the MEAC Tournament, the Bears can’t be completely ruled out but have struggled.

Towson and UMBC have basketball teams. One has a first year coach (the Tigers’ Pat Skerry), one has a coach who might be in his last season (the Retrievers’ Randy Monroe). Neither are even a little good.

Before I leave the topic, the University of Maryland women (who provided us a pleasant distraction with their 2006 NCAA Championship run) have a nice team again under Brenda Frese. They’re not liking a team that could make a Final Four run, but they weren’t supposed to be that year either.

-Other fans across the country will turn their attention to the NHL and NBA. With no team in either sport (and no arena for hope of a team relocating here in either sport) Baltimore isn’t afforded the opportunity to shift attention to such areas.

A handful of sports fans in Baltimore are interested in the Washington Capitals, who have made the NHL Playoffs in each of the last four seasons. After firing coach Bruce Boudreau earlier this season, the Caps find themselves sitting on the outside looking in at the playoff picture now under Dale Hunter and aren’t likely to make a run longer than last season’s advance to the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

There are less than a handful of Washington Wizards fans in Baltimore, which might be good news because the Wizards are unthinkably terrible.

-College Lacrosse season gets underway in the next 10 days, and both Johns Hopkins and Maryland find themselves in the Top 10 of preseason polls. A run to the Final Four from either the Blue Jays or Terrapins would be pleasant, but with the National Semifinals and Finals back in Foxborough Memorial Day weekend is not likely to register the same way for any local sports fan.

-That of course brings us to baseball. The Baltimore Orioles play their first Spring Training games on March 5. They’ll hope to avoid being mathematically eliminated from the AL East race before their first game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards April 6. There’s no guarantee they’ll succeed.

That’s where we are. It’s a harsh reality, but it’s reality. I don’t write this to try to depress anyone. The good news (for you) is that you won’t have to talk about it for four hours a day. I’m not afforded the same opportunity. And it’s not as if I’m really telling you anything you didn’t know, I just felt as though Monday was the day everything sunk in.

We’ll still be here for you however…if for no other reason than to pass the time.

Flexing my mic muscles since 1983…

-G

2011-12 MORGAN STATE BASKETBALL
Game 20
Saturday, February 4, 2012 – 4:00 p.m. (EST)
Morgan State (5-14, 3-5 MEAC) vs. Coppin State Eagles (11-11, 3-4 MEAC)
Baltimore, Md. – Hill Field House

BEAR FACTS
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman
Alma Mater/Year: Rhode Island/1986
Record at MSU/Year: 106-77/6th
Career Record: 141-139  
Basketball SID:  Leonard L. Haynes IV

GAME TIME
• Morgan State will face the Coppin State Eagles on Saturday, Feb. 4 in a cross-town matchup set to tip at 4 p.m. MSU will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak when the Eagles come to Hill Field House.

BEAR BITS
• Six of the last 12 games in the Morgan State vs. Coppin State series have been decided by 10 points or less.

• DeWayne Jackson scored a game-high 24 points (7-12 FG) and Aric Brooks matched his career-high by scoring 18 points, but Hampton’s Christopher Tolson hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final minute to help seal a 68-63 win Monday night in an ESPNU televised matchup.

• Morgan State will enter Saturday night’s contest having lost two straight, including three of its last four games.

• MSU has played teams tough with losses to then-No. 14/15 Xavier, Southern California, Cal Poly, Ohio and Savannah State — all on the road by nine points or fewer.

• Kevin Thompson has scored in double-digits in 13 of 19 games, and has posted five double-doubles (pts & rebs) so far this season .. he currently has 1,400 career points and needs to record two more points to move in front of Troy Brown (1,401 pts) as the No. 9 leading scorer in school history.

• Senior point guard Larry Bastfield is the only Bear to have started in every game (31) last season…currently he has started in 50 straight games.

• Junior swingman DeWayne Jackson currently leads the team by averaging 13.2 ppg and 3.5 rpg, including a career-high 33 points against Norfolk State on Jan. 14th.

• 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 9.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 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.

HOME COURT
During the Bozeman era the Bears have gone 46-11 (.807) home record inside the confines of Hill Field House, including a loss against N.C. A&T on Jan. 21.

A BEARS WIN WOULD…
•  Give the Bears a 4-4 record in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

•  Give Todd Bozeman his 107th victory as MSU’s head coach.

•   Give the Bears its fourth home victory of the season.

CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THE 1,000 PT CLUB
•  Junior forward DeWayne Jackson eclipsed the 1,000 point mark for his career as a result of pouring in a career-high 33 points against Norfolk State on Jan. 14. With 1,048 points, Jackson is the 21st member of the 1,000-point club at MSU.

THE SERIES VS. THE EAGLES
•   Saturday’s game will be the 72nd meeting between Morgan State and Coppin State. The Eagles lead the series 50-21 since 1975, including an 11-game winning streak against the Bears from 1989 to 1994.

•   The Bears have won six of the last seven meetings against the Eagles, with the one loss against Coppin State during last year’s season finale.

•  The last time MSU defeated Coppin State at the Hill Field House was Jan. 11, 2011. DeWayne Jackson scored 21 points and Kevin Thompson added 19 points to help knock off Hampton 78-72.Jackson, ranked among the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s leading scorers (16.7 points per game) was 5-of-17 from the field and converted 11-of-12 free throws.

•  Last time vs. CSU — Jordan Lee scored a game-high 19 points in 23 minutes to help lead Coppin State to a 73-60 win against in the regular-season finale in the Physical Education Complex. With the win the Eagles not only snapped a 6-game losing streak to the Bears, but they went into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament as the No. 3 seed

NOTE ON THE EAGLES
•  Coppin State has won two  of its last three games, and three of its last four … the one loss was a 93-92 overtime home loss against North Carolina A&T on Jan. 23rd in Baltimore.

•  Senior guard Tony Gallo continues to be one of the top scorers in the league. Gallo (5-11) ranks No. 3 in the MEAC in scoring by averaging 16.6 points and is shooting 38.7 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point territory. The Lynn, Mass. native is also averaging 2.8 rebounds per game and 3.7 assists (Ranked No. 6).

•  Coppin State is among the league leaders in 3-point field goal percentage (.369), No. 3 in free throw percentage (.691), and is currently ranked No. 2  in scoring offense (72.8 ppg).

•  Coppin State has the top two 3-point shooters in the league. Senior Michael Harper (6-4) leads the MEAC in 3-point percentage (.441) and senior power forward Logan Wiens (6-8) ranks No. 2 (.431).

LOOKING AHEAD
MSU will face Beltway rival Howard at Hill Field House on Monday, February 6. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

2011-12 MORGAN STATE BASKETBALL
Game 19
Monday, January 30, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. (EST)
Morgan State (5-13, 3-4 MEAC) vs. Hampton Pirates (7-13, 3-4 MEAC)
Hampton, Va. – HU Convocation Center
Television: ESPNU

BEAR FACTS
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman
Alma Mater/Year: Rhode Island/1986
Record at MSU/Year: 106-76/6th
Career Record: 141-138  
Basketball SID:  Leonard L. Haynes IV

GAME TIME
• Morgant State will face the Hampton Pirates on Monday, Jan. 30 in an ESPNU televised contest set to tip at 7 p.m. MSU will look to bounce back from a disappointing 76-59 loss at Norfolk State and will attempt to sweep the series against Hampton, before heading back for a five-game homestand.

BEAR BITS
• MSU will look to improve upon a 2-8 road records … the eight losses were by an average of 15 points per game. The last road victory posted by the Bears was on Jan. 7th at South Carolina State.

• Kyle O’Quinn scored 18 points and posted 12 rebounds to lead the Spartans to an impressive 76-59 victory against Morgan State before a packed crowd Saturday night at Echols Hall. Kevin Thompson led the Bears with 13 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double effort of the season.

• Morgan State played the Norfolk State and Hampton games without coach Todd Bozeman, who was on administrative leave. Kevin McClain led the Bears as interim coach.

• MSU has played teams tough with losses to then-No. 14/15 Xavier, Southern California, Cal Poly, Ohio and Savannah State — all on the road by nine points or fewer.

• Kevin Thompson has scored in double-digits in 13 of 18 games, and has posted five double-doubles (pts & rebs) so far this season.

• Senior point guard Larry Bastfield is the only Bear to have started in every game (31) last season…currently he has started in 49 straight games.

• Junior swingman DeWayne Jackson currently leads the team by averaging 12.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg, including a career-high 33 points against Norfolk State on Jan. 14th.

• 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 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 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.

HOME COURT
During the Bozeman era the Bears have gone 46-11 (.807) home record inside the confines of Hill Field House, including a loss against N.C. A&T on Jan. 21.

A BEARS WIN WOULD…
•  Give the Bears a 4-4 record in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

•  Give Todd Bozeman his 107th victory as MSU’s head coach.

•   Give the Bears its third road victory of the season.

•   Give the Bears its fifth consecutive regular season victory against Hampton.

BROOKS’ STREAK AT THE STRIPE IMPROVES TO 25
•   Senior guard Aric Brooks had his string of 25 consecutive free throws snapped Saturday at NorfolkState where he finished the game by going 8 of 10 from the free throw line.
•   The Baltimore product needed to hit four more consecutive free throws in order to best the previous school record, held by former Morgan State guard Reggie Holmes. Holmes hit 28 straight shots from the charity stripe during the 2009-10 season.
•   Brooks has gone 26-of-29 since the Norfolk State game and ranks No. 5 in the MEAC (.796FT).

CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THE 1,000 PT CLUB
•  Junior forward DeWayne Jackson eclipsed the 1,000 point mark for his career as a result of pouring in a career-high 33 points against Norfolk State on Jan. 14. With 1,048 points, Jackson is the 21st member of the 1,000-point club at MSU.

THE SERIES VS. THE PIRATES
•  Monday’s game will be the 32nd meeting between Morgan State and Hampton The Pirates hold a 20-11 all-time record against the Bears.

•  The Bears have won four of the last five meetings against the Pirates, with the one loss against Hampton at last year’s MEAC championship game.

•  The last time MSU defeated Hampton at the HU Convocation Center was Jan. 11, 2010. The Bears finished with four players scoring in double- figures, led by Reggie Holmes who paced the Bears with 16 points to defeat Hampton 73-63. Kevin Thompson and Troy Smith scored 11 points apiece, while DeWayne Jackson added 10 points and seven boards.

NOTE ON THE PIRATES
•  HU’s last win against Morgan State — Hampton got some timely baskets from Darrion Pellum to help the Pirates 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 leads the MEAC in scoring by averaging 18.6 points and is shooting 37.7 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3-point territory. The Hampton, Va. native is also averaging 3.9 rebounds per game and 1.7 assists.

•  > Hampton is currently ranked No. 8 in the MEAC averaging 38.6 rebounds per game, and rank No. 4 in the league in offensive rebounds (36.2/g).

LARRY BASTFIELD’S BIG NIGHT
Senior point guard Larry Bastfield scored a career-high 20 points against the N.C. Central, and calling that unlikely would be an understatement. This season, only three other Bears have scored more than 20 points in a game.

LOOKING AHEAD
MSU will return home to take on cross-town rival Coppin State in a conference matchup on Saturday, February 4. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

2011-12 MORGAN STATE BASKETBALL
Game 18
Saturday, January 28, 2012 – 6:00 p.m. (EST)
Morgan State (5-12, 3-3 MEAC) vs. Norfolk State (15-6, 7-0 MEAC)
Norfolk, Va. – Echols Hall
Radio: N/A
LIVE AUDIO at www.nsuspartans.com (Click “LIve Audio” link under Inside Athletics tab)
LIVE STATS at www.nsuspartans.com

BEAR FACTS
Head Coach: Todd Bozeman
Alma Mater/Year: Rhode Island/1986
Record at MSU/Year: 106-75/6th
Career Record: 141-137
Basketball SID:  Leonard L. Haynes IV

2011 MSU SCHEDULE & RESULTS

OFFICIAL NSU WEBSITE

GAME TIME
• Morgan State will prepare for a trip to the Tidewater to face the Norfolk State Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 6:00 p.m. (ET), before playing against Hampton Pirates on Monday, Jan. 30 in an ESPNU televised contest set to tip at 7 p.m. MSU will look to avenge a 90-89 2OT loss to Norfolk State and will attempt to sweep the series against Hampton, before heading back to Baltimore for a five-game homestand.

BEAR BITS
• MSU will look to improve upon a 2-7 road records … the seven losses were by an average of 15 points per game.

• Larry Bastfield scored a career-high 20 points in leading the Morgan State Bears to a 71-64 win over the Eagles of North Carolina Central. Bastfield, the Bears’ starting point guard, made 7 of 14 field goals to notch the most points he had scored since posting 15 points against N.C. A&T on January 31, 2011.

• Morgan State played the NSU and Hampton games without coach Todd Bozeman, who was on administrative leave. Kevin McClain led the Bears as interim coach.

• MSU has played teams tough with losses to then-No. 14/15 Xavier, Southern California, Cal Poly, Ohio and Savannah State — all on the road by nine points or fewer.

• Kevin Thompson has scored in double-digits in 11 of 17 games, and has posted four double-doubles (pts & rebs) so far this season.

• Senior point guard Larry Bastfield is the only Bear to have started in every game (31) last season…currently he has started in 48 straight games.

• Junior swingman DeWayne Jackson currently leads the team by averaging 13.0 ppg and 3.4 rpg. Jackson is averaging 18 points over the last five games, including a game-high 33 against Norfolk State.

• 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 9.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks so far this season.

• The Bears will look to rebound from last year’s fourth place MEAC finish and reclaim the conference title for the fourth time in five years.

• 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.

A BEARS WIN WOULD…
•  Give the Bears a 4-3 record in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

•  Give Todd Bozeman his 107th victory as MSU’s head coach.

•   Give the Bears its third road victory of the season.

•   Give the Bears its 12th victory against Norfolk State since the 1959-69 season.

LARRY BASTFIELD’S BIG NIGHT
Senior point guard Larry Bastfield scored a career-high 20 points against the N.C. Central, and calling that unlikely would be an understatement. This season, only three other Bears have scored more than 20 points in a game.

CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THE 1,000 PT CLUB
•  Junior forward DeWayne Jackson eclipsed the 1,000 point mark for his career as a result of pouring in a career-high 33 points against Norfolk State on Jan. 14. With 1,042 points, Jackson is the 21st member of the 1,000-point club at MSU.

BROOKS’ STREAK AT THE STRIPE IMPROVES TO 17
Senior guard Aric Brooks did what he does best on Monday night when he hit his 17th consecutive free-throw since the Bears’ Jan. 14. double-overtime thriller against Norfolk State. The Baltimore product needs to hit 12 more consecutive free throws in order to best the previous school record, held by former Morgan State guard Reggie Holmes. Holmes hit 28 straight shots from the charity stripe during the 2009-10 season. Brooks has gone 18-of-19 since the Norfolk State game and ranks No. 5 in the MEAC (.795 FT).

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 17 games, Jackson is averaging 1.6 steals per game, up from 1.4 during the 2010-11. He has recorded 101 thefts in his career.

NOTE ON THE SPARTANS
•  The Spartans hold a 29-11 all-time record against MSU since the series began during the 1959-60 season.

•  NSU swept the series last year by defeating the Bears 76-74 during an ESPU televised game at Hill Field House, and on the road (69-63) at Echols Hall.

•  The last time MSU defeated Norfolk State at Echols Hall was Jan. 31, 2010. The Bears trailed 90-89 with 2:35 left in the extra period, before scoring eight straight. Dewayne Jackson’s dunk gave MSU a 97-90 lead with 24 seconds left. Reggie Holmes scored 19 points, including traditional 3-point play in overtime that gave MSU the lead for good, and the Bears outlasted NSU 100-94.

•  Norfolk State has won eight of its last nine, and sit in control of the conference with a 7-0 record.

•  Kyle O’Quinn has averaged 24 ppg during his last three outings against the Bears, including a 25 point effort during the Spartans double overtime victory at Hill Field House this season.

LOOKING AHEAD
MSU will face Hampton in an ESPNU matchup on Monday, January 30th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

2011-12 MORGAN STATE BASKETBALL

After being suspended with pay for nearly two weeks, Morgan State basketball coach Todd Bozeman was reinstated by the school on Thursday night and will return to the sideline on Saturday when the Bears take on North Carolina A&T, according to ESPN.com.

Bozeman had been suspended for Morgan’s last three games after an allegation that he hit senior guard Larry Bastfield in the closing minutes of a win at South Carolina State on Jan. 7. The SCSU president George Cooper made the accusation.

“I was told to report back to work tomorrow morning,” Bozeman told ESPN.com. “I’m looking forward to getting back to the team and practice.”

The Bears went 1-2 during Bozeman’s suspension, winning their most recent game against Hampton on Monday night.

The coach was restricted from games and practices during the suspension as the school conducted an investigation that required Bozeman to appear before a special committee. Bozeman had been left in limbo regarding his status until Thursday night when he received a call to return to work on Friday.