To Morgan State guard Reggie Holmes, eight points is the difference between reality and being able to claim his Bears reached their goal.
Holmes said the team?s mission is to defeat a major opponent on the road this season. But after suffering four-point setbacks at UConn and Miami last month, the Bears (4-3) will look to accomplish the feat tonight at 8 by going into Comcast Center and beating Maryland (5-3).
“We had a lot of big, big teams on our schedule this year,” Holmes said. “We?re trying to at least knock one off. I think this could be the one. We?re coming in focused. I?m trying to get this win.”
Maryland was toppled by mid-major Virginia Commonwealth, 85-76, Sunday in the BB&T Classic in Washington, D.C. The Terrapins? starting guards ? sophomores Eric Hayes and Greivis Vasquez ? were outscored, 55-27, by VCU?s Eric Maynor and Jamal Schuler.
“We?ve got two guys who have played quite a bit in the last year as freshmen. So you cannot allow experience to be an excuse,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said of his sophomore guards. “I don?t buy into that. Whether you are a junior or a freshman, you have to play. They played better than we did.”
Morgan State is led by senior guard Jamar Smith, who averages 17.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Holmes adds 15.3 points, and junior forward Marquise Kately averages 13.7 points per game.
But Holmes feels the game will come down to defense, particularly limiting Maryland?s second chances on offense.
“I say defense and rebounding, not letting them get offensive rebounding,” Holmes said. “Other than that, they haven?t really proved they can shoot the outside jumper.”
Maryland shoots 28 percent from three-point range and Morgan State shoots 38.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Holmes? 43.8 percent three-point shooting could be the key to the Bears finally breaking through with a signature win against the Terrapins. Maryland already defeated Hampton this season ? and the Pirates are considered the best team in Morgan State?s league, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
“This is one of the games I?ve been talking about all year,” Holmes said. “I?m trying to really, really beat these guys. We?ve got to beat an ACC team and let them know who we are as a MEAC team.”
