Morgan State men?s basketball coach Todd Bozeman said he would travel to Farmville, Va. Tuesday to answer to misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an incident at a restaurant following the team?s loss at Longwood last Saturday.
Bozeman said he could not comment on the specifics of the case, but maintained his innocence.
“Contrary to popular belief it hasn?t necessarily been rough,” said Bozeman of the last week. “Anytime you get falsely accused ? it?s unfortunate. I have to wait to get my chance to defend myself. It is what it is.”
Bozeman was charged with assault and battery, a first class misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine. Bozeman is also charged with curse and abuse, punishable by up to a $500 fine.
The charges came after Bozeman went to Mulligan?s restaurant in search of a refund after his order did not come out to what he originally wanted. Restaurant manager Carlos Holland told The Examiner that Bozeman at one point grabbed restaurant employee Stephanie Shreck and pushed her out of the way.
Despite the off-the-court issues, Bozeman and his team feel like they have put that aside to concentrate on playing basketball. That may have been the case in last Monday?s 54-40 upset win at Delaware State. But, Morgan let a 14-point lead slip away in a 67-65 loss Saturday to Hampton (11-12, 7-5 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference).
The Bears (9-13, 7-4) next play at 7:30 p.m. today when they host Norfolk State (8-14, 8-4) at Hill Field House.
“The thing I keep telling them all year long, you might have things going on outside in your life, but if you have a job to do, you have to focus on your job,” Bozeman said. “It?s just life and being a man. Ultimately that?s what we?re preparing them for; to be men and to lead families. Sometimes you?ll make decisions that are not the best but then you bounce back and are responsible. You maintain focus and you work hard.”
Morgan senior forward Ronald Timus said they have used the incident last weekend as a rallying point rather than letting it be a distraction.
“We bought into his teachings so with him here or not we were going to get this done,” said Timus on the Delaware State win. “That wasn?t a distraction. That brought us closer together as a team. But [against Hampton] we didn?t stick together in the end.”
Bounce passes
» Ronald Timus and Joseph McLean each had 16 points and Boubacar Coly added six points and 12 rebounds for Morgan against Hampton.
» Rashad West scored 23 points, including a pair of go-ahead free throws with 13.3 seconds remaining to lead Hampton.
» Tonight?s opponents, Norfolk State, lost Saturday at Coppin State, 77-70. However, they defeated Morgan in their last meeting, 68-54, Jan. 15 in Virginia.
