Morgan State men?s basketball coach Todd Bozeman said the Bears still have plenty of room to improve, but compared to last year?s team, his squad already has made enormous strides.
The Bears will get a chance to see just how much better they are tonight when they host American at 7 at Hill Field House in their home opener after the Eagles defeated Morgan State, 97-84, in theDistrict last season.
“We are getting better, but we are not where I would like for us to be, but in comparison to where we were this time last year we are light years ahead,” Bozeman said. “Nor would I want to be where we want to be right now. You have to have room to grow and get better and that?s where we are right now.”
After dropping a 69-65 decision at perennial Big East powerhouse Connecticut to start the season, Morgan State (2-1) has improved each game, beating Ohio Valley, 77-66, and drilling St. Francis, 77-53. The Bears have displayed a disciplined offense and have created quality chances off of their defense, as they are averaging 12.3 steals per game and are plus-8.7 in turnover margin.
But it will be Morgan State?s perimeter defense that determines if it will take down American (2-2), a member of the Patriot League.
The Eagles are led by a pair of sharpshooting guards, Derrick Mercer and Garrison Carr. Both players average 18.3 point and at least three assists per game. Mercer is shooting 62.5 percent from beyond-the-arc and both connect on 80 percent of their free throws. The Bears will lean on their own dynamic scorer, sophomore guard Reggie Holmes. Holmes is one of three players on Morgan State who average double figures in scoring, leading with team with 17 points per game, despite coming off the bench in each game.
“We have been playing OK, we have a nice chemistry right now,” Holmes, a former standout at St. Frances High School in Baltimore, said. “We just have to play good defense and execute and do what we know, because we are prepared.”
BEARS (2-1) VS. AMERICAN (2-2)
» TIPOFF: Tonight, 7
» WHERE: Hill Field House, Baltimore
» T.V/RADIO: 88.9 FM
» TICKETS: Available
