Men's Basketball | 2/5/2026 8:54:00 AM

ORANGEBURG, S.C.  — Jayden Johnson scored 19 points to lead South Carolina State to a 63-54 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play Wednesday (Feb. 4) night inside Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

South Carolina State improved to 4-2 in the MEAC, while UMES falls to 4-2 in the league.

Johnson shot 7 of 12 from the field and made three 3-pointers for the Bulldogs (6-16, 4-2 MEAC), who led for more than 34 minutes and built a lead as large as 18 points in the second half.

James Morrow added 14 points and four rebounds, while Florian Tenebay finished with 11 points and three assists. Christopher Parker chipped in six points off the bench for South Carolina State, which shot 43.2% from the field and converted 19 of 27 free throws.

South Carolina State took control late in the first half behind Johnson, who scored 16 of his 19 points before the break. His back-to-back 3-pointers helped fuel a 7-0 run that extended the Bulldogs' lead to 14 points, and South Carolina State carried a 34-20 advantage into halftime.

The Bulldogs maintained momentum early in the second half as Morrow scored eight quick points to push the margin to 16. Maryland Eastern Shore (8-16, 4-3 MEAC) trimmed the deficit to 14 on several occasions but could not get closer as South Carolina State controlled the tempo and capitalized at the free-throw line.

Jaden Cooper led the Hawks with 19 points, while Zion Obanla and Joseph Locandro added 10 and seven points, respectively. Maryland Eastern Shore shot 41.7% from the field and committed 21 turnovers.

South Carolina State finished with 12 steals and held Maryland Eastern Shore to 20 first-half points, setting the tone defensively in its second straight conference win.

NEXT UP: South Carolina State return to action Saturday (Feb. 7) on the road versus Howard University in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown inside Burr Gymnasium.

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South Carolina State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 14 sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, softball, men's and women's outdoor track and field, women's soccer and football with all teams competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), except for women's soccer. 
  
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