Morgan State?s men?s basketball players knew coming into the season they were capable of being the top team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
They just didn?t expect to get there so soon.
The Bears (11-8, 6-1) toppled then-conference leading Hampton (11-7, 5-1), 64-57, Monday night at the HU Convocation Center in Hampton, Va., to propel themselves into sole possession of first place. Morgan State is off to its best start since the 1978-79 season and has a chance to maintain its momentum as it plays its next four games at Hill Field House, beginning Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. against Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-19, 0-6). The Bears are 5-0 at home this season.
“First after the win at Hampton I congratulated them and told them I was proud of them,” Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman said. “I told them it?s a good win but we still have work to do and we need more production out of some guys. They nodded and some other guys raised their hands and said they needed to step up.”
And players have taken their turn producing.
In the win over Hampton, leading-scorer Jamar Smith (18.2 ppg) had a game-high 23 points and sophomore guard Reggie Holmes, who shot just 3-of-13 from the field, made 7-of-8 free throws to score 14 points. Senior center Boubacar Coly scored 12 points to go along with 12 rebounds. His performance earned him his fifth consecutive MEAC Defensive Player of the Week Award.
“I was shooting bad the whole game,” said Holmes, a former standout at St. Frances. “But I went up to the free-throw line and knocked down some clutch shots.”
Defense has been the key for the Bears, as they allow 63.7 points per game and force more than 16 turnovers. After UMES, Morgan State hosts Delaware State (7-11, 4-2) on Monday night at 7:30. The Bears end their homestand against Winston-Salem State (7-11) on Feb. 9 and South Carolina State (6-14, 2-4) on Feb. 11.
“It?s just kind of one more step,” Holmes said. “But the season isn?t over yet. It?s where we want to be, and we want to stay at the top.”
