Hawks Roar Past Bears On Senior Night, 89-76
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team concluded a phenomenal season with another impressive win over Morgan State, an 89-76 final score on Thursday evening. UMES (18-13, 11-5) finishes the regular season on a four-game winning streak, heading into the MEAC Tournament with the school's best record since the 1973-74 season.
With the victory, UMES sweeps their season series with Morgan State for the first time since 2012. The win is also the 18th of the year for UMES, the most for the program since the historic 1973-74 season, which culminated in an NIT appearance.
Next week, UMES will travel down to Norfolk, Va. for the MEAC Tournament, held at the Scope Arena from Monday March 9 to Saturday March 14. The Hawks will play on Thursday with a 6:00 p.m. scheduled tip-off against the winner of the first round matchup between the 6-seed and 11-seed. Hawk fans can listen live to the MEAC Tournament on the Hawks Radio Network, powered by SFMSports.net and Fox Sports 960 AM in Salisbury, Md.
For complete stories, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.morganstatebears.com
Monster Game by Gray & May Lead Hornets Past Eagles In Regular Season Finale
Baltimore, Md.-- Kendall Gray had career-highs of 33 points and 30 rebounds; and Amere May poured in 40 points to lead Delaware State to a 104-92 MEAC men's basketball win over Coppin State in the regular season finale for both teams this evening. With the win, the Hornets secure fifth place in the final MEAC regular season standings and No. 5 seed in next week's conference tournament.
Gray's performance marked the first time in Delaware State's MEAC era that a player has reached 30 points and 30 rebounds in a game. His rebound total is also tops among all NCAA Div. I players this season. The previous Div. I high this year was 28 by Rico Gathers of Baylor. He's also the only player in Div. I to reach the 30-30 plateau this season.
Gray's big night nearly overshadowed a 40-point scoring performance by Amere May. It is his second 40-point game of the season. He scored the NCAA Div. I season high of 48 vs. St. Francis Brooklyn on Dec. 17.
May, the MEAC's leading scorer, was 13-for-24 from the field; six-of-10 on three-point shots and six-for-six at the free throw line.
For complete stories, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.coppinstatesports.com
Spartans Sweep Season Series from Hampton, Secure No. 2 Seed
HAMPTON, Va. - A big run late in the first half erased a double-digit deficit, and the Norfolk State men's basketball team was able to come away with an 80-69 win over rival Hampton on Thursday night in the Battle of the Bay. The victory in the regular season finale secured the No. 2 seed for the Spartans in next week's MEAC tournament.
It began with junior Jeff Short, who scored 17 points in the first stanza, including 14 during a 24-6 run that closed out the half. He finished with 26 points on the night thanks to 9-of-14 shooting. He had his highest scoring output in 11 games.
As the second seed, NSU will now play at 8 p.m. on Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the MEAC tournament at Scope Arena. The Spartans will face the winner of the South Carolina State-North Carolina A&T first-round contest.
The victory pushed NSU's record to 19-12 overall and 12-4 in conference play. The Spartans are now tied for the third-most overall wins in a season in the Division I era and finished with the third-best MEAC record in 17 seasons.
For complete stories, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.hamptonpirates.com
B-CU Defeats SC State
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ricky Johnson scored 21 points, Mikel Trapp had 19 and Bethune-Cookman beat South Carolina State 72-62 on Thursday.
Bethune-Cookman (11-20 overall, 7-9 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) scored the last 10 points of the first half -- including 3-pointers from Trapp and Johnson -- and led 36-32 at intermission.
Johnson and Trapp combined to go 7 of 15 from beyond the arc. Trapp, playing his final home game, made three of his three-pointers in the second half.
For complete stories, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.scsuathletics.com