Roy Bright poured in a career-high 30 points, including the game-winning free throws in the last four seconds to lift Delaware State to a hard-fought, 56-53 win over Morgan State University in overtime in the semifinals of the MEAC tournament at the RBC Center. The Number 1 seed Hornets (21-11) will take on the winner of the North Carolina A&T-Florida A&M University semifinal on Saturday at 6 pm. The championship game will be televised live, also at 6 p.m., on ESPN Classic.
The game was a grind-it-out affair between two heavyweight teams, who had spilt during the regular season. There were 11 ties and 13 lead changes as neither team led by more than six.
Delaware State’s Jahsha Bluntt, the two-time MEAC Player, was held in check most of the game, so the Hornets turned to Bright, a transfer from Garden City CC and the University of Cincinnati, to lead the offensive charge.
“Most people have not had a chance to see the real Roy Bright because of the confines of our system,” said Delaware State head coach Greg Jackson. “He has mostly been a complementary player to Jahsha Bluntt. Tonight, you got to see what kind of player he really is. We are thankful that we have a player of his caliber at Del State.”
Bright posed problems for the Bears both on the perimeter and in the paint. The 6-6 junior from Durham, NC, connected on 8-of-18 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range, but more importantly 10-of-12 from the free throw line.
“It was just one of those situations where Coach (Jackson) called my play and my teammates began to look for me,” said Bright, whose previous scoring high was 25.
The Number 5 seed Bears (13-18), who had broken the Hornets’ 22-game home win streak in February, stayed close due to the strong inside play of Boubacar Coly (career-high 22 points, 13 rebounds) and scoring of reserve guard Jamar Smith, who tallied 16 points.
“I was proud of the way that we played tonight,” said Morgan State first-year head coach Todd Bozeman. “But there is a reason that Delaware State is where they are. They are a well-coached team and Roy Bright played an unbelievable game. We made some mistakes, missed some free throws and some easy shots, but you have to give them some credit for that. They have six seniors who have been through the wars and that is strong.”
Even with Bright’s performance, the Bears still had a chance. They actually led, 53-48 with 1:45 remaining in the extra period. Then Bright took over, canning a three pointer seven seconds later to get to within two points, 53-51. The Bears turned the ball over on their next possession and Delaware State made them pay when Elyon Bush scored on a tip-in to tie the score at 53 with 1:01 on the clock.
The Hornets got the last possession and Coly was called for a foul on Bright from outside the three-point circle. Bright sank all three free throws and the Hornets advanced to the finals for the third straight year.
“All I thought about all last summer was going 1-for-11 from the field in the championship last season and losing (to Hampton),” reflected Bluntt, who finished with 10 points. “That has been the motivation throughout. To get back to the championship and win it.”
In the overtime, Suber, the MEAC Player of the Year, canned a three pointer to put her team ahead, 67-64, but the Lady Bears came right back to get within one on a Johnson layup with 3:20 remaining.
Following a blocked shot on the other end, Adams came down and hit a short jumper to put the Lady Bears ahead, 68-67 at the 2:10 mark. Morgan State made it interesting as it missed three free throws until Phillips hit her second attempt to make it, 69-67 Morgan with 49 ticks left on the clock.
Coppin State still had chances to tie but Shalamar Oakley’s shot went in and came out. Griffin grabbed the rebound and a celebration ensued as Morgan State had advanced to the final for the first time since 1985.
“We came here to win this tournament, so it’s not over,” said Johnson. “It doesn’t matter who we play in the final. We are confident that we can win it.”
Johnson led Morgan State with 17, Adams added 16 and Phillips and Griffin contributed 12 and 10, respectively.
Coppin State, which awaits an invitation to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), was led by Suber with 18, Noel with 12 and Tanezia Harden and Talia Sutton with 10 each.