BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Justin Black scored 17 points and led five teammates in double-figures as Morgan State won its conference home opener against Howard University 87-58 on Saturday at Hill Field House. Howard (2-9, 0-1) and Morgan State opened Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play and also celebrated their 101st meeting. The Bears and the Bison have split the last two meetings.
Morgan State (2-7, 1-0), who was tabbed pre-season as a second-place finisher in the MEAC, led 37-29 at the break.
Black, the Bears leading scorer (17.8 ppg) accented a second half 48-32 lead with a steal and a two-handed slam at 16:59 and then scored on another dunk two minutes later to go up 53-35.
Black not only led the Bears in scoring, but he also finished with six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman spoke about his team's second half performance.
"I was proud of the guys, we picked it up the second half," Bozeman said. "Cedric Blossom in particular stepped up and brought it."
"Prince Okoroh had 21 points in the first half, so we wanted to make sure we focused on him. We put Ced on him and I thought he did a good job; he has good size and he can really defend. I thought that was key for us and I thought the play of Thair Heath was big for us; his physical presence inside."
Black not only led the Bears in scoring, but he also finished with six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman spoke about his team's second half performance.
"I was proud of the guys, we picked it up the second half," Bozeman said. "Cedric Blossom in particular stepped up and brought it."
"Prince Okoroh had 21 points in the first half, so we wanted to make sure we focused on him. We put Ced on him and I thought he did a good job; he has good size and he can really defend. I thought that was key for us and I thought the play of Thair Heath was big for us; his physical presence inside."
Howard, a loser of eight straight games could not match the pace set by Morgan State and trailed by as much as 29 leading up to the buzzer.
Okoroh paced the Bison with a game-high 25 points, while James Daniel had 17 and four assists.
The Bears held a commanding 38-25 advantage on the glass and outscored Howard in the paint by a 20 point margin (42-22).
Anthony Hubbard and Blake Bozeman had 13 points apiece, Thair Heath added 12 points in a reserve role, and Cedric Blossom added 10 as Morgan State shot a season-best 59 percent (33-56) from the field.
"I'll take a win," said Bozeman, "and a conference win and the first conference game is always important to get off to a good start."
Bear Notes
+ Thair Heath finished with a career-high 12 points (6-7 FG)+ Blake Bozeman connected on 3-of-5 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 13 points
+ MSU's bench outscored Howard 25-2
+ The Bears honored Nelson Mandela with raised fists during the playing of the national anthem.
Okoroh paced the Bison with a game-high 25 points, while James Daniel had 17 and four assists.
The Bears held a commanding 38-25 advantage on the glass and outscored Howard in the paint by a 20 point margin (42-22).
Anthony Hubbard and Blake Bozeman had 13 points apiece, Thair Heath added 12 points in a reserve role, and Cedric Blossom added 10 as Morgan State shot a season-best 59 percent (33-56) from the field.
"I'll take a win," said Bozeman, "and a conference win and the first conference game is always important to get off to a good start."
Bear Notes
+ Thair Heath finished with a career-high 12 points (6-7 FG)+ Blake Bozeman connected on 3-of-5 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 13 points
+ MSU's bench outscored Howard 25-2
+ The Bears honored Nelson Mandela with raised fists during the playing of the national anthem.
COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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