Morgan State knows its success stems from playing good defense. And on Monday night, against Bethune-Cookman, it couldn?t have been much better at protecting its basket.
The Bears contested nearly every shot and continually frustrated the Wildcats? offense in a 59-50 victory in front of 2,987 fans at Hill Field House.
Bethune-Cookman made just 4-of-17 shots in the first half and turned the ball over a total of 16 times. The Wildcats shot a meager 40.5 percent for the game. The 50 points allowed tied a season-low for the Bears.
“That?s how we want to play. We want to contest every shot,” Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman, whose team is 5-0 at home, said. “Guys have been doing a good job in the half court and that is one of the things we emphasize every day.”
Bethune-Cookman (7-11, 2-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) tied the game at 5-5 just five minutes into the game on a three-pointer by Dominique Whatley.
But Morgan State (9-8, 4-1 MEAC) responded with a 20-1 run, capped by a Reggie Holmes three-pointer, to take a 25-6 lead with four minutes left in the first half. The Bears maintained their suffocating defense and took a 30-15 lead into intermission.
Holmes finished with a team-high 16 points and two steals.
The 15 points allowed were just four off the school record for fewest in a half, set in1993 against North Carolina A&T when the Bears yielded 11.
“We don?t lose at home,” Holmes said. “We try to push the ball and get fast breaks.”
The Wildcats cut the Bears? lead to just seven points three minutes into the half after a three-pointer by Jimmy Hudson, but Jamar Smith responded with a three for Morgan State seconds later to restore a double-digit, 33-23 lead. Another Whatley three-pointer drew his team within five at 53-48 with 2:07 left, but the Wildcats got no closer.
Morgan State made 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute and 10 seconds to secure the victory.
Smith finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while Marquise Kately had 15 and six.
“I never try to emphasize if we are at home or on the road,” Bozeman said. “It?s just baskets and a ball, let?s play.”
