Ali, Smith and Davis Lead Morgan to Win Over Hampton

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Ameer Ali scored 12 of his team-high 14 points in the second half and Troy Smith and Joe Davis added 11 and 10, respectively after the half to lead Morgan State to a 74-67 win over Hampton University in the semifinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament at the Joel Coliseum.

The Bears (26-9), the Number 1 seed, advances to the championship game on Saturday against the winner of the Delaware State-South Carolina State game at 2 p.m.  The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

Morgan State overcame a poor shooting first-half in which it shot only 26 percent (7 of 27) and trailed, 32-27.  Moreover, the Bears got only three points from their two top scorers, Reggie Holmes, the MEAC Player of the Year, who came into the game averaging 22 points per game, and Kevin Thompson, the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, who averages a double-double of 12.6 points and 12.0 rebounds.

"I was not that concerned," said a composed Morgan State Coach Todd Bozeman, the MEAC Coach of the Year.  "Reggie and Kevin had not scored a field goal and we were only down by five.  We have had adversity before and come back."

Ali and Davis picked up the slack to get the Bears back in the game.  Ali was 4-for- 4 from the field and grabbed six rebounds. Davis was 6-of-8 from the free throw line while Troy Smith was 3-for-4 from the field.

"We are playing for something much bigger," said Ali.  "We knew we had to pick it up in the second half.  I was able to get some early baskets and Joe and Troy did a great job of picking up the slack for Reggie and Kevin."

The second half featured runs by both teams.  The Pirates (14-18), the Number 5 seed, was able to counter the Bears with scoring from Michael Freeman, who tallied 11 of his 18 points in the second half and Vincent Simpson and Kwame Morgan, who combined for 13 points.

After Charles Funches made one of two free-throws to make the score, 69-65 at the 1:34 mark, the Bears put the game away, going on a 5-0 run as Troy Smith added a basket and two free throws.

Holmes managed to come alive late in the game when it mattered.  The senior guard hit a big 3-point basket that gave his team the lead for good and he converted on all six of his free throw attempts after intermission.

The Pirates, who had played a highly charged, emotional game against Norfolk State on Thursday, seemed to fatigue down the stretch as two of their key players, leading scorer Vincent Simpson and Brandon Tunnell, fouled out.

Hampton was led by Freeman's 18, 13 by Morgan off the bench and 11 by Simpson in a losing cause.

The Bears were led by Ali with 14, Troy Smith and Davis with 12 and Holmes and DeWayne Jackson, the MEAC Rookie of the Year with 11 each. 

Morgan State will play in the tournament final for the fourth straight year on Saturday, March 13 during a nationally televised game on ESPN2 beginning at 2 p.m.

"This was a total team effort," said Bozeman, the MEAC Coach of the Year for the second straight year.  "I am really proud of this group.  We have won 26 games and we are in the finals again so we will just wait to see who wins and get ready for tomorrow."

 

South Carolina Outlasts Delaware State in Semifinals

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Jason Flagler scored a game-high 19 points, including the go-ahead basket in overtime, to lead South Carolina State to a 70-66 win over Delaware State in the semifinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament at the Joel Coliseum.

The Bulldogs (18-13), the Number 3 seed, will take on Morgan State University in the championship game at 2 p.m.  The game will be televised on ESPN2.

South Carolina State appeared to be in good shape with a 23-16 lead at the half.  The Bulldog defense stymied the Hornets (17-12), the Number 2 seed, by forcing them to miss 18 of the 23 shots that they took. 

"When we got the lead, we relaxed a little," said SC State head coach Tim Carter.  "Maybe we thought the game was over.  But Delaware State had something to do with that.  They play a style of defense that keeps you off balance.  It allowed them to get back into the game."

SC State increased its lead to 49-34 with just a little under seven minutes to play.  DSU went on a 21-2 run to take a four point lead, 55-51, at the 1:15 mark.  The resilient Bulldogs responded with Carrio Bennett, who nailed two clutch 3-pointers in 32 seconds to send the game into an extra frame.

"All I was thinking was that the game was not over and that we had to keep fighting," said Bennett with 10 points, all coming in the second half and extra period.  "I got good looks at the basket and I was able to knock them down."

Both teams exchanged baskets in the overtime with Marcus Oliver getting six of the Hornets' points.  His free throw with 1:03 gave the Hornets their last lead and their last points.

Flagler scored on a nice feed from Khalif Toombs to make the score, 67-66.  Bennett added a free throw and Rico Pitt got a big tip-in on Bennett's missed free throw to close out the scoring and send the Bulldogs into the tournament final.

"We have adopted a motto all season long that we are warriors who never give up," said Coach Carter.  "We feel that if we shoot the ball well and play with that warrior mentality, we have a chance."

The Hornets were led by Jay Threatt with 15 points, Marcus Neal with 14, all coming in the second half, and Francisco Sandidge with 13 and 10 rebounds for a double-double.

SC State was paced by Flagler, a first team All-MEAC selection, who had 19 points and eight rebounds. Pitt tallied 11 and Bennett and Brandon Smalls each scored 10.

The Bulldogs split with Morgan State during the season, losing at home and handing the Bears their only conference loss of the season in Baltimore, MD.

"We play the toughest team in the conference," said Carter.  "We're going to show up."

 

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