Box Score | Updated Bracket | MEACHoops.com


NORFOLK, Va., March 12, 2021 – Morgan State turned in the upset of the 2021 Air Force Reserve MEAC Basketball Tournament Friday evening at the Scope Arena, taking out Northern Division top seed and rival Coppin State 82-61.
 
The Bears (14-7), the North’s No. 3 seed, advance to Saturday’s championship game against Norfolk State. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.
 
De’Torrion Ware had a monster game for the second straight night, going for 29 points and 15 rebounds. He hit nine field goals and five 3-pointers, on top of going 6-for-7 from the free throw line. Malik Miller joined him in double figures with 13 points.
 
For the second straight night, the Bears overcame a sluggish start and won in come-from-behind fashion. Coppin State led by nine at the break, 36-27, and Yuat Alok had a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) in the first 20 minutes.
 
“We can’t keep getting behind, especially against good teams,” Morgan State head coach Kevin Broadus said. “I told the guys, play every possession as hard as you ever have. … Teams don’t beat us; we beat ourselves.”
 
The Bears opened the second half on a 13-2 run, taking a 40-38 lead with 15:30 to play after a Miller 3-pointer. Nendah Tarke, the MEAC Rookie of the Year, gave Coppin State a 44-42 lead at the 14;07 mark with a dunk, but that wound up being the Eagles’ final lead of the contest.
 
Morgan State dominated the remainder of the game, outscoring Coppin 44-21 the rest of the way. The Eagles closed the game making just two of their last 13 field goal attempts.
 
Though Coppin outshot Morgan from the floor – 39.2% to 37.0% -- the Bears were better from behind the arc (34.6% to 20.0%) and at the free throw line (76.0% to 55.2%). Morgan State also held a 50-37 edge on the glass.
 
Alok led the Eagles (9-13) with 17 points and 11 rebounds. MEAC Player of the Year Anthony Tarke was held to 10 points; Nendah Tarke scored 15.