Courtesy of Morgan State Athletic Communications
Morgan State men's basketball finished the 2019-20 season with an 15-16 overall record, including 9-7 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play to finish 5th in the conference standings. Senior guard Stanley Davis was selected to the All-MEAC Third Team.
MEAC TOURNAMENT CUT SHORT
#5 Morgan State was set to face #4 Bethune-Cookman (16-14) in quarterfinals action of the MEAC Tournament on Thursday, March 12th at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. It would have been the second meeting between the teams this season, with the Bears dropping an 85-78 decision on January 13 in Daytona Beach, Florida. The winner would have played Friday (March 13) versus the winner of #1 North Carolina Central vs. #8 Delaware State/or #6 Maryland Eastern Shore. The Bears' quest for its first tournament title since 2010 ended when the MEAC cancelled the rest of its basketball tournament, based on the current climate surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19). The MEAC also announced that all spring sports will be suspended through the end of the 2020 spring semester.
TURNING UP THE WINS
In Kevin Broadus' first year as head coach, the Morgan State win totals rose. In fact, the Bears posted its highest win total (15) since the 2009-10 season in which MSU finished with a 27-10 record, won the MEAC Title and played West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament.
First-Year Coach Improvement Chart…
Stetson (Donnie Jones): +9 (7 to 16)
Tulane (Ron Hunter): +8 (4 to 12)
William & Mary (Dane Fischer): +7 (14 to 21)
Appalachian State (Dustin Kerns): +7 (11 to 18)
Morgan State (Kevin Broadus): +6 (9 to 15)
Northern Arizona (Shane Burcar): +6 (10 to 16)
Mercer (Greg Gary): +6 (11 to 17)
Kansas City (Billy Donlon): +5 (11 to 16)
BYU (Mark Pope): +5 (19 to 24)
Washington State (Kyle Smith): +4 (11 to 16)
George Washington (Jamion Christian): +3 (9 to 12)
BEARS MAKE HISTORY
Morgan State head coach Kevin Broadus picked up his first signature win as the Bears head coach on Dec. 31 by defeating George Washington, 68-64, in Washington, D.C. The win was the first-ever versus George Washington.
DAVIS NAMED TO ALL-MEAC TEAM
Senior guard Stanley Davis was named the 2019-20 All-MEAC Third Team. It marked the first All-MEAC honor for Davis, who was also a 2019-20 preseason all-conference second team selection. Davis ranked among the league leaders in a number of statistical categories: ranks No. 8 in rebounding (6.0), No. 9 in scoring (13.7), No. 12 in assists (2.5), No. 6 in free throw percentage (.784) and No. 13 in field goal percentage (.465).
1,000-POINT CLUB
Davis added to his growing list of accolades, recording his 1,000th career-point, making him the 28th 1,000 point scorer in program history. He finished his career with 1,044 points in 112 games played. He passed Tiwian Kendley (1,032 pts) and James Turk (1,035) on the school's all-time scoring leaderboard and ranks No. 24 (1,044 pts).
EXCLUSIVE CLUB MEMBER
Davis is just the 13th player in school history to have over 1,000 points and over 500 rebounds. In four seasons at Morgan State, Davis accumulated 1,044 points, 514 rebounds (15th on the all-time rebounding list), 193 assists, and 92 steals in 112 appearances.
HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
Davis and David Syfax played in the 100th game of their Bear careers this season. Davis finished his career with 112 games played, while Syfax ranks No. 6 on the school's all-time games played list with 118 games played.
SHARING THE DISH DUTIES
The trio of Isaiah Burke, Stanley Davis and Sherwyn Devonish-Prince led the Bears in assists. Davis led the Bears averaging 2.5 assists per game (No. 12 in MEAC), followed by Devonish (2.2 apg) and Burke (1.9 apg). Devonish dished out a team-high six assists during the Bears win against South Carolina State on Jan. 6 and finished with six assists against Howard on Feb. 1.
40-AND-OVER CLUB
Five of Morgan State's primary shooting threats finished the season by shooting at 40 percent or better from the field, led by Malik Miller (83-for-154) at 53.9 percent; Stanley Davis was 146-for-314 (46.5% - ranks 12th in MEAC) from the floor; David Syfax Jr. (84-185) shot .454; Jamar Brown (39-for-87) finished at 44.8 percent; and Laigo Grantsaan (59-for-143) at 41.3 percent.
NOT IN MY HOUSE
Led by the duo of Troy Baxter and David Syfax, Morgan State completed the 2019-20 season ranked No. 1 in the league averaging 4.3 blocks per game. The team's block average was the highest since the Bears averaged 4.8 blocks (No. 2; 150) in the 2013-14 season – a season in which 7-foot-2 center Ian Chiles led the way averaging 3 blocks per game. Junior forward Troy Baxter ranked 2nd in the league averaging 1.9 blocks per contest (58), while senior forward David Syfax had 20 blocks (0.6 avg). Baxter posted a season-high five rejections during the Bears win against Central Penn on Nov. 6, 2019. Morgan State's opponents averaged 23.4 points in the paint.
TREY-BURKE
Sophomore guard Isaiah Burke connected on 38 of 122 3-pointers and ranked second on the Bears in three-point shooting percentage (.311; ranks No. 15 in MEAC). He connected on a season-high five 3-pointers inside Hill Field House versus Norfolk State (March 5). He made at least one 3-pointer in 23 of 30 games played. He had a string of seven consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer from Nov. 19 - Dec. 7.
BREAKOUT SEASON
Malik Miller had quite a productive sophomore campaign for the Bears. The Washington, D.C. product (Friendship Tech Prep) recorded his fourth double-double of the season after hauling in a 10 boards with 14 points versus Norfolk State (March 5). He posted a career-high 18 rebounds with 14 points against Coppin State (Feb. 29) .. and was named MEAC Defensive POTW (March 3). He finished the season averaging 7.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg and shot 53.9 percent from the field. Miller averaged 11.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and shot a blistering 58.4 percent in conference-only play.
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
Through 31 games of the 2019-20 season, the Bears averaged 70.4 ppg (ranked No. 6 in MEAC) and shot 42.4 percent from the field (ranks No. 5) and 28.1 percent from beyond the arc (No. 10). They scored a season-high 112 in a triple overtime thriller vs. Evansville (Nov. 24). MSU was limited to a season-low 56 points in a win at Maryland Eastern Shore (Jan. 27).
THE CHARITY STRIPE
Morgan State finished the 2019-20 season shooting 69.7 percent (492-709; ranks No. 4 in MEAC) from the stripe, led by Stanley Davis who shot 78.4 percent (109-139; ranks No. 6 in MEAC), Troy Baxter shot 71.4 percent (65-91; ranks No. 11) and Isaiah Burke 70.8 percent (34-48).
BEAR D
The Bears defense was ranked among the conference leaders for the 2019-20 season. The Bears ranked No. 2 in the conference by limiting opponents to shooting 40.7 percent from the field thru 31 games. The Bears held opponents to shooting 30.8 percent (205-666; No. 6) from beyond the arc. MSU ranked No. 1 in the MEAC with 132 blocks (4.3 avg). The Bears limited opponents to 70.9 points per game (ranks No. 3).
BENCH PRODUCTION
The bench production was solid for Morgan State this season. Head coach Kevin Broadus had a number of reserves who stepped up and provided a boost at different times throughout the season. Players like David Syfax, Kyson Rawls, Malik Miller, Lagio Grantsaan, LaPri MCray-Pace, Peter Sorber and Cameron Shaw have all contributed to what is arguably one of the deepest teams in the league. MSU has had at least one player score in double-digits off the bench in 18 of 31 games played this season. David Syfax, led the Bears bench averaging 7.4 points and 4.1 rebounds. The Bears averaged 23.1 points per game off the bench, (30.7% of the team's scoring output) while conversely allowing 20.3 points per game off the bench to their opponents. Morgan State's bench outscored Central Penn 28-to-0 on Nov. 6 at Hill Field House.
CLOSE CALLS
The Bears started the 2019-20 season with a 7-9 record in games decided by 10 points or fewer, with a 71-65 loss to Saint Francis, followed by a 68-64 win at George Washington, and two close losses in The Islands of the Bahamas Showcase vs Milwaukee (62-57) and Evansville (115-112 3OT). The Bears posted a 74-71 win at Loyola Marymount, fell to Bethune-Cookman 85-78 and N.C. A&T 76-70, and rallied to beat Coppin State 50-48, Maryland Eastern Shore 56-50 and 61-53, and Howard 89-83, fell to N.C. Central 58-57 and Norfolk State 62-57 ... they beat South Carolina State 78-72 and Delaware State 90-80 and recently lost to Coppin State 72-65 and Norfolk State 68-62.
A ROAD LESS TRAVELED
Morgan State went 7-7 on the road during the 2019-20 season, after going 2-13 on the road during the 2018-19 season. The Bears finished the MEAC slate with a 5-3 road record following its 78-72 win at South Carolina State (Feb. 17). The last time MSU finished over .500 on the road (12-7) was during the 2010 season.
NON-CONFERENCE RECAP
Morgan State went 6-9 in non-conference play, the most non-conference wins since a 2017-18 season in which the Bears held a 6-10 non-conference mark. Prior to that, MSU had not won at least six non-conference games since the 2012-13 season (7-9). MSU played seven teams that are .500 or better and five of its opponents have won eight or more games. MSU went 4-2 at home, 2-4 in road games and 0-3 in neutral site games.
RIM ROCKERS
If it seems like the Bears are dunking a lot, you're right. Troy Baxter had three of the Bears four more dunks in Morgan State's 76-70 loss against North Carolina A&T (Jan. 20), and Baxter led the team in total dunks (23) and dunks per game (0.8). David Syfax and Stanley Davis tied for second on the team with 14 dunks apiece. The Bears combined for 69 dunks through 31 games.
WHO'S OUT
Morgan State student-athletes David Syfax Jr. (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS), Victor Curry (Chicago, Ill.,/Cleveland State C.C.) and Stanley Davis Jr. (Chester, Pa./STEM Academy) wrapped up their collegiate careers.
PRESEASON ALL-MEAC SELECTIONS
The Morgan State men's basketball team had a pair of Bears selected to the 2019-20 Preseason All-MEAC Team. Senior guard Stanley Davis was selected to the second team, while sophomore guard Sherwyn Devonish-Prince Jr. was named to the third team.
• The most proven player on the roster is senior Stanley Davis, who led Morgan State in both scoring (12.5 per game) and rebounding (7.1). The latter number ranked seventh in the MEAC last season.
• Sherwyn Devonish-Prince Jr. earned a place on the MEAC All-Rookie team by averaging 10.7 points as a true freshman.