Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman chooses his words carefully after games, keeping his team?s success in perspective.
His players have been careful to follow suit, but sometimes, they just can?t control their excitement about their record-setting season in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
“We are just doing the same things to get to our ultimate goal,” sophomore guard Reggie Holmes said referring to his team?s first postseason berth as a Division I school. “And that?s getting to what?s past the MEAC Tournament.”
Holmes, a former St. Frances standout, led the Bears (15-8, 9-1) to their most recent victory, an 81-55 thumping of South Carolina State (8-16, 4-6) by tying a school record with seven three-pointers on nine attempts en route to scoring a game-high 25 points.
The win gave Morgan State its eighth consecutive victory, its most since winning nine straight in 1974 en route to the Division II national title.
The Bears can set the record with a pair of wins the next three days, beginning this afternoon at 4 against Florida A&M (8-15, 4-6) at Gaither Gymnasium in Tallahassee, Fla.
If Morgan State beats the Rattlers, which it did, 57-41, on Jan. 19 in Baltimore to start its winning streak, it has the chance to set the mark on Monday night at 7:30 at Moore Gymnasium against Bethune-Cookman (10-14, 4-6) in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Bears tamed the Wildcats, 59-50, at Hill Field House on Jan. 21.
“We have to keep working on defense and trying to be efficient on offense,” Bozeman said. “We are trying to get consistent in our effort and not let up.”
The Bears should be able to score against the Rattlers, who are yielding 72.1 points per game and allowing opponents to shoot 47.1 percent from the floor and 36 percent from beyond the arc. But Florida A&M has its own offensive talent, striking with guard Leslie Robinson (13.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and forward Lamar Twitty (11.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg).
Bethune-Cookman, however, should play much tighter defense two days later, as the Wildcats yield a league-low 59.7 points per game and letting teams shoot just 42.7 percent from the floor. The Wildcats are paced by junior forward John Holmes (13.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and senior guard Jimmy Hudson (12.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg).
Morgan State has a one-game lead over Norfolk State (12-10, 8-2) atop the conference standings. If the Bears win the MEAC regular season title, they will earn an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament.
“We are trying to grow as a team and sometimes in games we haven?t been able to score or weren?t smart enough to take advantage of stops,” Bozeman said. “So, it?s shown some growth, we are taking steps in the right direction.”
