Men's Basketball

Bears Hold Off Millersville, 77-71

Courtesy of MSU Athletic Communications

BALTIMORE, Md. (December 6, 2021) – Trevor Moore scored a season-high 18 points with four steals off the bench to help Morgan State secure a 77-71 victory over Millersville on Monday night inside Hill Field House. 

Millersville had the ball trailing 72-71 with under 40 seconds to play. Moore intercepted a pass intended for Caden Najdawi in the post, and he was fouled on his way up the court. Moore made both free throws for a three-point lead. 
 
Millersville had one last chance to tie it, and James Sullivan took a three from the right wing, but it hit front iron. Forced to foul to stop the clock, Millersville sent Morgan to the line two more times in the final 10 seconds, where the home team extended its lead.
 
The Bears improved its record to 3-0 at home and 4-5 for the season, while Millersville's loss does not count against the Marauder's record because it was officially an exhibition game. 
 
Malik Miller finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Keith McGee came off the bench to score nine points, hitting 2 of 4 shots from 3-point territory, while Seventh Woods added eight points and six rebounds.
 
Sullivan led Millersville with a game-high 20 points and connected on 4 of 8 3-pointers. Mekhi Hendricks was 5 of 8 from the field and finished with 13 points. Khari Williams was just shy of posting a double-double with nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
Millersville out-shot the Bears, hitting 49.1% of its shots from the field and 48% from three while Morgan 44.6% from the field and 33.3% from three. Millersville also held a 35-27 edge on the glass. The real difference came at the free throw line and in turnovers. Morgan State made 21-of-26 free throws while Millersville attempted just six all game. The Marauders also committed 24 turnovers, which turned into 30 Morgan points. 
 
Millersville's barrage of 3-pointers kept it in the game, and after trailing 38-37 at the half, Millersville canned four-straight shots, including three threes for a 12-0 run starting with a Ryan Davis three with 13:41 to play. That 12-0 run put Millersville up 61-52 with just under 12 minutes left. But as quick as the lead was built up, it disappeared. Out of the media timeout, Millersville went scoreless for nearly six full minutes, shooting 1-for-9 from the field and 0-for-5 in that stretch. Morgan, meanwhile, posted a 14-2 run for a 66-61 lead with 7:51 to play. 
 
Millersville did manage to retie the game on a Justin Nwosu three with 4:34 left, and took the lead at 67-66 on a Sullivan free throw 41 seconds later. But Morgan's Lagio Grantsaan answered with two foul shots, and the Bears outscored the Marauders 11-4 while also forcing three turnovers in the final 2:51.
 
Morgan will return to the hardwood on Saturday (Dec. 11) when they travel to face the Longwood Lancers. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at The Joan Perry Brock Center.