Freshmen lift Bison to a victory on the road
BALTIMORE — Seventy-five seconds into the second half, Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman had seen enough of his starters. He sent five reserves to the scorer’s table en masse.
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It has been that kind of year for the Bears coach. After four straight winning seasons that included 89 victories and two NCAA tournament appearances, Bozeman’s team has taken a precipitous fall in a season in which it was picked to win the MEAC.
On Monday night, Morgan State’s woes continued with a 54-46 loss to Howard before 1,009 at Hill Field House. It was the first time in nine tries that the Bison beat the Bears since Bozeman took over in 2006.
Freshman guard Prince Okoroh (14 points) hit six of seven shots and Simuel Frazier (nine points, four assists) added a trio of 3-pointers as Howard (6-18, 3-8) won for the second time in its last three games.
There’s little doubt the Bison are thinking about the future. For the fourth straight game, they started five freshmen. Coach Kevin Nickelberry likes what his youngsters bring.
“As long as they play with toughness, as long as they play as a team, as long as they play with moxie, they’re gonna make positive things happen for us,” Nickelberry said.
Morgan State (5-16, 3-7) started a front line that measured 7-foot-2, 6-9 and 6-8. But Howard, giving up at least three inches at each position, outrebounded the Bears 37-22, demonstrating their newfound toughness.
Morgan State’s best moments came after Bozeman’s mass substitution as the Bears peeled off six straight points to take a lead that they held most of the second half. But late in the game, Howard rang up seven straight points. Okoroh dunked off an inbounds pass and followed with two free throws before freshman Brandon Ford (seven points) made a 3-pointer for a 45-40 lead.
In the final minute, Howard sealed it, hitting nine of 10 free throws.
“We’re not trying to be the prettiest girl at the party. That’s not who we are,” Nickelberry said. “Nasty, in-your-face, bang-it-up defense — that’s how we’re going to win.”
